Like "smart bombs," the receptor-targeted therapeutics (or "smart drugs") that Endocyte develops aim to take out bad cells without causing collateral damage. Receptor-targeted therapeutics are a precision alternative to non-targeted cancer drugs that can destroy healthy cells. Founded in 1996, Endocyte uses its drug guidance system to deliver drugs including small molecule cancer drugs and RNA-based therapies directly to cancerous cells, while leaving other cells unaffected. Its lead candidate, EC145 is in clinical trials to treat ovarian cancer. Endocyte went public in early 2011 in a $75 million IPO. It plans to use the proceeds to fund development of EC145 and other candidates in its pipeline.