Protara is committed to identifying and advancing transformative therapies for people with rare and specialty diseases. The Protara team prioritizes creativity, diverse perspectives and tenacity to expedite our goal of bringing life-changing therapies to people with limited treatment options.
TARA 002 for the treatment of Lymphatic Malformations (LMs)
Our lead program is TARA 002, an investigational cellular therapy based on OK-432, an immunostimulant currently approved in Japan and Taiwan, that has been standard of care in LMs for over 20 years. Lymphatic malformations are rare, non-malignant masses that primarily form in the head and neck region of children before the age of two. Radiographically, lymphatic malformations have been categorized into three subtypes – macrocystic, microcystic, or mixed (a combination of the other two). In the US and Europe, the standard of care is surgical excision, which is associated with high rates of recurrence and complications.1 A US-based, multicenter study in more than 600 patients, led by the University of Iowa, demonstrated that OK-432, was safe and effective in the treatment of macrocystic and mixed LMs.
OK-432 has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA.
1Perkins, J. et al. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2010; 142(6):795-803