BrYet is based on thirty years of scientific work. Our journey started when we realized that the vast majority of cancer deaths were associated with metastases to the lungs and liver. Even today, primary and secondary cancers of the lungs and liver still remain generally incurable, though some progress has been recorded in extending the life and alleviating the suffering of metastatic cancer patients.

Thirty years ago, we also recognized that the world of oncology largely classified and treated metastatic cancers by association with the organ of origin — thus, a breast cancer with metastasis was classified as breast cancer, and treated accordingly. Nothing has changed since. Maybe, this paradigm is a key reason why progress in the fight against these deadly forms of cancer has been so excruciatingly inadequate.

We asked ourselves two questions: First, could this oncology paradigm be challenged? Second, could this challenge yield new, more effective cures? Through our own research programs at Berkeley, Ohio State, the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Methodist, the Weill Cornell Medical College, and many collaborating institutions, we realized that the answer to both questions was a strong “Yes!”

Yes, metastases to the lung and liver have characteristics they share regardless of the site of origin. Yes, these shared characteristics offer new targets for therapeutic and potentially curative approaches. And yes, these innovative therapies can save a substantial number of lives, if they can be brought into clinical use. Cancer remains the number one cause of premature death worldwide, and metastases to the lung and liver play a dominant role in these tragedies.

So, curing metastases to the lung and liver became our focus. Through our many years of research, we have been blessed by generous grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Program, the State of Texas, DARPA, the Food and Drug Administration, NASA, and many other public and private institutions. Hundreds of scientists have worked on these themes, resulting in hundreds of publications, with frequent cover honors including Nature and Science journals. We have won many awards and recognitions. We are incredibly grateful for the multi-faceted support of the community for our endeavors.

In these thirty years, we have failed many times to cure these dreadful diseases. Yet, from every disappointment we learned important lessons, and through these setbacks we were able to make new discoveries leading to the identification and invention of new approaches. Some of these failures spawned new branches of science, which ultimately gave rise to new families of drugs now routinely used to treat many different diseases, benefiting millions of people worldwide.

Today, metastases to the lungs and liver remain largely incurable, but – we believe – not for long. You can learn more about our technology and our progress toward our mission here.

We hope that you will continue to follow along with our journey.

Mauro Ferrari, PhD
President and CEO
BrYet US, Inc.