About us
A South Carolina oncology company built on academic discovery
PPI Pharmaceuticals, LLC was founded in South Carolina in November 2013 as a spin-off from an academic research laboratory. Campbell McInnes, Ph.D., Professor in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of South Carolina, is President and Chief Scientific Officer. The company develops next-generation cancer therapeutics by using novel technology to exploit protein-protein interactions.
Key accomplishments
November 2013
PPI Pharmaceuticals, LLC founded in South Carolina
May 2017 – May 2021
Polo-box PLK1 Inhibitors Target Tumors Resistant to ATP Competitive Compounds (Phase I STTR).
Full in vivo validation of the REPLACE strategy in prostate cancer
Aug 2025 – present
Polo-box PLK1 Inhibitors Target Tumors Resistant to ATP Competitive Compounds (Phase I STTR).
Further in vivo validation in colorectal cancer using patient derived tumors. Striving towards personalized cancer treatment.
September 2026
Phase II grant applied for ($2.5 M over 2 years).
Involves determining in vivo activity in a colon cancer model.
Business model
Out-license partnered development
The business model of most small companies is to out-license to larger pharmaceutical companies. For partnered drug development, sales are handled by the major company that has in-licensed PPI technology.
- Founded
- November 2013, South Carolina
- Industry
- Pharmaceutical / biotechnology research and development
Route to Market
Around 100 projects narrow to 10 compounds, then to 1 drug. Funding shifts from grants to investors, then to a pharmaceutical partner.