In the mid-'90s when it became apparent that cancer tumor growth is angiogenesis-dependent (new blood vessel formation), scientists began to understand the mechanisms by which tumor growth is stimulated by angiogenesis. Pivotal BioSciences is pioneering the effort to develop powerful new compounds to control this process and thereby cut off the blood supply to growing tumors. The product candidates developed by Pivotal's distinguished founders were discovered at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. Pivotal's strategy is to initiate early-stage clinical trials and then obtain commercialization partners to complete advanced clinical trials, obtain FDA approval, manufacture and market its highly promising drug candidates.