# Auransa

> Auransa is a clinical-stage, AI-native biopharmaceutical company in Palo Alto, California, that uses a proprietary machine-learning platform - the SMarTR Engine - to mine large, heterogeneous human disease datasets and discover novel cancer therapies without starting from a predefined drug target. Founded in 2014 by Pek Lum and Viwat Visuthikraisee, the company pairs each predicted compound with the patient subtypes most likely to respond, aiming to improve the odds of clinical success. Its lead program, AU-409, an RNA transcription modulator for advanced liver cancer, is in Phase 1 trials, with additional programs including heart-safe chemotherapy.

- **Founded:** 2014
- **Headquarters:** Palo Alto, California, United States
- **Founders:** Pek Lum (Co-Founder & CEO), Viwat Visuthikraisee (Co-Founder & COO)
- **Team size:** ~11 employees
- **Products:** SMarTR Engine, AU-409, AU-018 (heart-safe chemotherapy), AU-118
- **Notable:** Advanced AI-derived lead candidate AU-409 into Phase 1 clinical trials for liver cancer in the US and Asia., Reported a partial response and stable disease in pretreated hepatocellular carcinoma patients, with a manageable safety profile and no dose-limiting toxicities to date., Demonstrated use of combined AI and quantum computing with POLARISqb to identify treatment targets for triple-negative breast cancer.

## Products & services

- **SMarTR Engine** — A proprietary biology-first AI/ML platform that generates insights from molecular data to understand disease biology and patient subtypes, then predicts which compounds - approved, investigational, or natural - may work against specific molecular subtypes, matched to responsive patients.
- **AU-409** — Lead clinical program: an AI-derived RNA transcription modulator for advanced liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) that affects expression of genes cancer cells rely on for growth. In Phase 1 trials in the US and Asia.
- **AU-018 (heart-safe chemotherapy)** — A cardioprotective agent designed to mitigate the cardiotoxicity of the chemotherapeutic doxorubicin while increasing its anti-cancer activity.
- **AU-118** — An additional preclinical program in Auransa's therapeutic pipeline derived from the SMarTR Engine.

## Achievements

- Advanced AI-derived lead candidate AU-409 into Phase 1 clinical trials for liver cancer in the US and Asia.
- Reported a partial response and stable disease in pretreated hepatocellular carcinoma patients, with a manageable safety profile and no dose-limiting toxicities to date.
- Demonstrated use of combined AI and quantum computing with POLARISqb to identify treatment targets for triple-negative breast cancer.
- Applied the SMarTR Engine to COVID-19, where three of five identified compounds showed promising results alongside remdesivir in high-containment testing.
- Raised $34.2M total including a $15.7M Series A from investors including DCVC and Lux Capital.

## Latest updates

- **2022-08** — Auransa and POLARISqb reported using quantum computers to identify promising treatment targets for triple-negative breast cancer.
- **2021-05** — Auransa and POLARISqb entered a research collaboration to find treatments for neglected women's diseases.
- **2020-08** — Auransa raised a $15.7M Series A round to advance its AI-derived oncology pipeline.
- **2020-01** — First patient dosed in the Phase 1 clinical trial of AU-409 for liver cancer.

## Links

- Website: https://auransa.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/auransa

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/auransa
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-13