Phoenix, AZ (October 30, 2025) – According to the American Cancer Society, 2024 marked the first time the United States reported more than 2 million new cancer cases in a single year, with an estimated 2,001,140 diagnoses. This is where FAKnostics plans to make a difference by targeting focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a protein found in 60-80% of all cancerous solid tumors.
Founded in 2014 by Jennifer Thompson, who currently serves as CEO, FAKnostics brings over 30 years of combined expertise in FAK research and therapeutic development.
While most industry strategies have historically focused on inhibiting the enzyme activity of FAK, Faknostics is taking a novel approach by targeting the scaffolding function of FAK — the primary driver of tumor invasion that has been largely overlooked for nearly two decades. “Everyone has been targeting the enzyme, but it’s the scaffolding function of FAK that actually drives cancer spread — and that’s what we’re going after,” said Timothy Marlowe, Chief Scientific Officer.
Timothy Marlowe, Chief Scientific Officer, from their research lab at 850 PBC.
To execute on this vision, the company has developed a pipeline of cyclic peptides, macrocycles, and small molecules designed to disrupt this scaffolding activity. FAKnostics is currently in the pre-IND preclinical stage, with plans to enter first-in-human clinical trials within the next 1–2 years.
Like many early-stage biotech companies, FAKnostics faced significant challenges in its early development. Securing SBIR/STTR funding in 2019 proved to be a pivotal milestone, enabling the company to establish its first independent laboratory and begin scaling research efforts. “You have to build everything from the ground up — benches, equipment, even basic supplies,” Marlowe said.
FAKnostics research revealed a significant link between FAK activity and fibrosis within the tumor microenvironment, uncovering a broader therapeutic opportunity in pancreatic cancer, liver fibrosis (cirrhosis), and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) — conditions characterized by aggressive scar tissue formation that limits treatment response.
To support precision treatment, FAKnostics is also developing a companion diagnostic using a monoclonal antibody assay to detect FAK expression levels in patient tissue samples. “If a patient has high FAK expression, we can identify them within days and potentially match them to a targeted trial,” Marlowe said.
Working towards the future, FAKnostics plans to launch in a high-need cancer type, such as melanoma or pancreatic cancer, before expanding into a broader solid tumor platform, with future applications in fibrosis-driven diseases.
Please contact Jennifer Thompson or Timothy Marlowe if you are interested in supporting this important biomedical research.
About the Phoenix Bioscience Core
The Phoenix Bioscience Core (PBC) is a 30-acre life sciences innovation district located in downtown Phoenix. It hosts Arizona’s three public research universities—Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona—as well as leading genomics pioneers like the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of the City of Hope, and the International Genomics Consortium. The PBC also collaborates with major healthcare systems, including Banner Health, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Dignity Health, HonorHealth, Phoenix VA, and Valleywise Health, alongside a growing number of emerging life science companies. This unique concentration of research scientists and healthcare professionals fosters unprecedented collaborations, advancing precision medicine from discovery to delivery. To learn more, please visit phoenixbiosciencecore.com.
By: Madisson Simental | October 30, 2025