STX Pharma

STX Pharmaceuticals was a venture-backed biotechnology company focused on developing a new class of site-specific sodium channel blockers for the treatment of chronic and neuropathic pain. Founded by Dr. Justin Du Bois of Stanford University, the company leveraged a proprietary platform for the chemical synthesis of saxitoxin (STX) derivatives, which are potent and selective inhibitors of the Nav1.7 sodium channel. By modifying the structure of naturally occurring toxins, STX Pharmaceuticals aimed to create non-opioid analgesics with improved safety profiles and reduced systemic toxicity. The company's technology and assets eventually served as the foundation for SiteOne Therapeutics, which continues to advance these programs in the clinic.