Asceneuron SA

▎药明康德内容团队报道 根据即刻药数数据库，上周（7月15日~7月21日），全球生物制药领域至少10家致力于创新药研发的公司宣布完成新一轮融资，其中包括2家来自中国的创新生物医药公司。这些获得融资的公司的技术和管线涉及siRNA核酸药物、小分子降解剂、CRISPR技术、抗体免疫疗法等领域。 公司：大睿生物 融资轮次：A+轮 融资金额：3500万美元 7月19日消息，聚焦核酸药物研发的大睿生物（Rona Therapeutics）宣布完成A+轮3500万美元融资，用于推动创新的siRNA代谢管线项目进入全球开发，并扩展夯实中枢神经系统及其他领域的肝外递送平台。该轮融资由LongRiver江远投资领投，参与投资方包括昭德投资、博远资本、中启资本和礼来亚洲基金等。 大睿生物致力于研发核酸创新药，用于代谢性疾病和中枢神经退行性疾病的治疗。该公司正在推进基于新一代siRNA平台生成的siRNA管线项目，首个RN0191管线PCSK9 siRNA项目已完成澳大利亚和中国的1期临床研究，正在推进高胆固醇血症的2期临床开发。 公司：Draupnir Bio 融资轮次：种子轮 融资金额：1200万欧元 7月17日消息，致力于开发口服小分子降解剂的生物技术公司Draupnir Bio宣布完成了总计1200万欧元的种子轮股权投资，融资所得将用于进一步开发其口服小分子蛋白质降解剂临床前管线。该轮融资的投资方包括三菱田边制药公司旗下风险投资集团MP Healthcare和由丹麦政府支持的融资基金EIFO，以及现有投资者Gilde Healthcare Partners、Inkef Capital和Novo Holdings。 Draupnir Bio是一家丹麦生物技术公司，致力于利用溶酶体的天然机制开发细胞外致病蛋白质的口服小分子降解剂，这是靶向蛋白质降解（TPD）的前沿方向。据介绍，这是一个迅速发展的领域，利用细胞自身的破坏机制来解决传统疗法难以靶向的致病蛋白质。Draupnir正在利用其新颖且差异化的专有技术平台，利用溶酶体受体，以开创性的方式将TPD的潜力扩展到靶向细胞外和膜结合蛋白，这有可能为TPD领域带来改变。 公司：Ancilia Biosciences 融资轮次：未知轮 融资金额：420万美元 7月17日消息，一家利用CRISPR技术开发对破坏性病毒具免疫力的细菌疗法和产品的生物技术公司Ancilia Biosciences宣布完成420万美元的融资。此次融资由Safar Partners领投，Metaplanet、Psymed Ventures、Zubi Capital、Spacecadent Ventures和其他机构和私人投资者也参与其中。 攻击细菌的病毒是地球上最丰富的生物实体，至少占人类微生物组的一半。它们可能导致人类疾病，也可能限制有益细菌产品的功效。Ancilia公司通过其专有的CoVE™平台识别和表征病毒，并应用其专有EPIC平台来利用细菌的天然CRISPR功能来创建对这些病毒免疫的活体生物治疗药物和其他微生物产品。 公司：NGM Biopharmaceuticals 融资轮次：A轮 融资金额：1.22亿美元 7月17日消息，NGM Biopharmaceuticals宣布完成了1.22亿美元A轮融资，用于启动aldafermin（一种工程FGF19类似物）的注册试验，用于治疗原发性硬化性胆管炎（PSC），并完成NGM120（一种GDF15/GFRAL拮抗剂）治疗妊娠剧吐（Hyperemesis Gravidarum）的2期试验。这两项试验预计将于2024年第四季度开始。此轮融资由TCG领投，并有多家其他投资者参与。 NGM Biopharmaceuticals专注于发现和开发新的、改变生命的药物。据介绍，NGM Bio以生物学为中心的药物发现方法，旨在无缝整合对复杂疾病相关生物学和蛋白质工程专业知识并产生见解，从而产生有前景的候选产品，使其能够快速推进概念验证研究，并解决未被满足的患者需求。 公司：Renalys Pharma 融资轮次：A轮 融资金额：60亿日元（3800万美元） 7月17日消息，Renalys Pharma宣布完成了60亿日元（约3800万美元）A轮融资，用于支持其IgA肾病治疗药物sparsentan在日本的3期临床试验，以及推进其他药物研发项目。此次融资由Catalys Pacific和SR One领投，还有多家其他投资方。 Renalys Pharma成立于2023年，专注于治疗慢性肾脏疾病的潜在药物研发。该公司目前已有7款药物处于IND到NDA/BLA阶段，用于推进日本及亚洲各地的肾脏疾病治疗，为患者提供更好的治疗选择。Sparsentan是该公司的核心产品，为一款具双重机制的“first-in-class”内皮素/血管紧张素受体拮抗剂，于2023年2月获美国FDA加速批准，用于降低有高疾病进展风险的IgA肾病患者的蛋白尿。该产品由Travere Therapeutics研发，Renalys公司拥有部分国家和地区的权益。该产品曾被分析公司Clarivate列为2023年值得关注的潜在15款重磅疗法之一。 Cardurion Pharma 融资轮次：B轮 融资金额：2.6亿美元 7月17日消息，Cardurion Pharma宣布已完成2.6亿美元的B轮融资，获得资金将用于支持该公司两款主要候选药物的后期临床试验，这两款药物分别是潜在“first-in-class”PDE9抑制剂，拟用于治疗心力衰竭，其已经在2期临床中获得概念验证；以及具有广泛治疗潜力的钙/钙调蛋白依赖性蛋白激酶II（CaMKII）抑制剂，拟用于治疗儿茶酚胺多态性室性心动过速。 Scorpion Therapeutics 融资轮次：C轮 融资金额：1.5亿美元 7月17日消息，Scorpion Therapeutics公司宣布已完成1.5亿美元的C轮融资，获得资金将用于推进其差异化小分子肿瘤学项目的研发。Scorpion公司成立于2020年，曾入选2021年年度生物技术猛公司（Fierce 15）榜单。该公司正在推进别构、差异化、突变选择性PI3Kα抑制剂STX-478的临床试验，这款产品在正常组织中避免了对野生型PI3Kα的抑制，从而减少了靶向毒性。Scorpion公司其他在研项目还包括两款EGFR抑制剂以及下一代精准癌症治疗的其他管线。 CatalYm 融资轮次：D轮 融资金额：1.5亿美元 7月17日消息，CatalYm公司宣布已完成1.5亿美元的D轮融资。CatalYm公司已将GDF-15确定为癌症治疗的关键耐药机制，并正在将其开发为治疗实体瘤的免疫疗法。该公司目前正在进行先导抗体产品、一种靶向中和生长分化因子-15（GDF-15）人源化单克隆抗体visugromab（CTL-002）的2b期研究，用于多种实体瘤适应症。公开信息显示，visugromab联合抗PD-1抗体治疗晚期癌症患者具有良好的安全性和有效持久的抗肿瘤疗效。 Asceneuron 融资轮次：C轮 融资金额：1亿美元 7月17日消息，Asceneuron宣布完成超额认购的1亿美元C轮融资，该笔融资将用于推进其主打项目ASN51进入治疗阿尔茨海默病的2期临床开发阶段。Asceneuron专注于开发口服生物可利用疗法，以治疗严重未满足医疗需求的衰弱性神经退行性疾病。该公司正在开发两种临床阶段的小分子OGA抑制剂，其中ASN90（授权给Ferrer Pharmaceuticals）用于治疗进行性核上麻痹（PSP），ASN51用于治疗阿尔茨海默病。 ASN51是一种口服小分子药物，旨在抑制与蛋白质聚集有关的酶OGA。通过阻止tau蛋白的聚集，以减缓阿尔茨海默病的进展。根据新闻稿，ASN51独特的作用方式和方便的口服配方使其成为阿尔茨海默病患者的潜在理想疗法。除此之外，Asceneuron公司还计划推进帕金森病、肌萎缩侧索硬化症（ALS）和其他神经退行性疾病的临床前开发。 浩博医药 融资轮次：A轮 融资金额：3700万美元 7月15日，浩博医药宣布完成3700万美元A轮融资，本轮融资由信达生物主导发起设立的美元基金InnoPinnacle Fund追加领投，元生创投、汉康资本、启明创投、元生资本共同参与。浩博医药专注于HBV慢性乙肝功能性治愈和针对肝脏疾病的高效靶向治疗，并拓展了对肝脏以外新靶点的靶向小核酸治疗。该公司研发的具有乙肝“功能性治愈“潜力的裸露反义寡核苷酸（ASO）药物AHB-137注射液近日还被中国NMPA纳入突破性治疗品种。 希望在资本的助力下，这些公司能够加速在研疗法的开发，早日造福更多的患者。 参考资料： [1]各公司官网和公开资料 本文来自药明康德内容团队，欢迎个人转发至朋友圈，谢绝媒体或机构未经授权以任何形式转载至其他平台。转载授权及其他合作需求，请联系wuxi_media@wuxiapptec.com。 免责声明：药明康德内容团队专注介绍全球生物医药健康研究进展。本文仅作信息交流之目的，文中观点不代表药明康德立场，亦不代表药明康德支持或反对文中观点。本文也不是治疗方案推荐。如需获得治疗方案指导，请前往正规医院就诊。

EQT Life Sciences has invested in Asceneuron's oversubscribed Series C and Prof. Philip Scheltens will join the Asceneuron Board of Directors Asceneuron - which is developing small molecules targeting tau protein aggregation, a root cause of neurodegenerative disease - will use the funds to progress its lead asset ASN51 into Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease AMSTERDAM, July 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EQT Life Sciences is pleased to share that the LSP Dementia Fund has invested in Asceneuron SA ("Asceneuron" or "the Company"), a clinical stage biotech company developing small molecules, targeting tau protein aggregation, a root cause of neurodegenerative disease. New investors in the oversubscribed USD 100 million Series C also include Novo Holdings – which led the round – OrbiMed and SR One. Existing investors M Ventures, Sofinnova Partners, GSK Equities Investments Limited and Johnson & Johnson Innovation also participated. Prof. Philip Scheltens, Partner and Head of the LSP Dementia Fund, will join the Asceneuron Board of Directors, and Dr. Arno de Wilde, Director at the Fund will join as board observer. The financing will be used to advance the clinical development of Asceneuron's clinical pipeline of OGA inhibitors for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Primarily, Asceneuron plans to take its lead asset, known as ASN51, into Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. ASN51 is an oral small molecule drug designed to inhibit OGA, an enzyme implicated in protein aggregation. By preventing the aggregation of tau proteins, ASN51 aims to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. OGA inhibition has also shown promise in the prevention of other neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Asceneuron has completed five early-stage clinical trials, showing that their treatment effectively reaches the brain and targets the OGA enzyme. Asceneuron plans to initiate its first Phase 2 clinical study later this year. Barbara Angehrn Pavik, Chief Executive Officer of Asceneuron, said: "This high caliber life sciences investor syndicate further validates the potential of our OGA inhibitor pipeline and leadership in the field of tauopathies. We are excited to be working with the LSP Dementia Fund given their outstanding track record in the field of Alzheimer's disease as we advance our lead asset ASN51 into Phase 2 clinical development, recognizing its potential to significantly expand treatment options for patients with Alzheimer's disease". New Asceneuron Board Member and Head of the LSP Dementia Fund Prof. Philip Scheltens added: "Dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases are some of the greatest healthcare challenges of our time. With our LSP Dementia Fund, EQT Life Sciences can invest in innovative companies across the neurodegenerative spectrum. Asceneuron is exactly this kind of company. Its clinical pipeline has breakthrough potential to change patients' lives for the better and we're delighted to be joining Asceneuron on its journey." Contact EQT Press Office, [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision The following files are available for download:

Funds will be used to progress lead asset ASN51, an oral small molecule OGA inhibitor, into Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease is an area of very high unmet medical need with a lack of oral disease modifying therapies Naveed Siddiqi, Senior Partner, Venture Investments, Novo Holdings will join Asceneuron Board of Directors COPENHAGEN, Denmark, July 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Novo Holdings, a leading life science investor, today announces it led a $100 million Series C Financing in Asceneuron, a clinical stage biotech company developing small molecules targeting tau protein aggregation, a driver of neurodegenerative disease. The financing will be used to advance Asceneuron's lead asset ASN51 into Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. ASN51 is an oral small molecule drug designed to inhibit OGA, an enzyme implicated in tau protein aggregation. By preventing the aggregation of tau proteins, ASN51 aims to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. OGA inhibition has also shown promising potential to prevent the aggregation of proteins that are central to other neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. ASN51's unique mode of action and convenient oral formulation make it an ideal therapy for patients with Alzheimer's disease. Asceneuron has completed five Phase 1 clinical trials, demonstrating complete central nervous system uptake and high OGA enzyme occupancy, indicating its potential for differentiation from its competitors. Asceneuron plans to initiate its first Phase 2 clinical study later this year. Asceneuron has a seasoned leadership team and a world class Scientific Advisory Board of experts in neurodegenerative diseases. Naveed Siddiqi MD, Senior Partner, Venture Investments, Novo Holdings said: "Alzheimer's disease is undergoing a transformational moment. Millions are afflicted by this devastating disease and there are very few therapeutic options. Validated biomarkers are allowing for more focused and rapid development. We are now witnessing the approvals of the first disease modifying antibody based injectable therapies. Asceneuron's innovative oral small molecule drug targeting intracellular tau offers the potential for a paradigm shift in the way this neurodegenerative disease is treated." In connection with the financing, Naveed Siddiqi will join the Asceneuron Board of Directors. Barbara Angehrn Pavik, Chief Executive Officer of Asceneuron, commented: "This high caliber life science investor syndicate, led by Novo Holdings, further validates the potential of our OGA inhibitor pipeline and leadership in the field of tauopathies. We are excited to advance our lead asset ASN51 into Phase 2 clinical development, recognizing its potential to significantly expand treatment options for patients with Alzheimer's disease." The financing was led by Novo Holdings, with additional new investment from EQT Life Sciences Dementia Fund, OrbiMed and SR One, alongside participation from existing investors, M Ventures and Sofinnova Partners. About Novo Holdings A/S Novo Holdings is a holding and investment company that is responsible for managing the assets and the wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The purpose of Novo Holdings is to improve people's health and the sustainability of society and the planet by generating attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novo Holdings is the controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk A/S and Novonesis A/S (Novozymes A/S) and manages an investment portfolio with a long-term return perspective. In addition to managing a broad portfolio of equities, bonds, real estate, infrastructure and private equity assets, Novo Holdings is a world-leading life sciences investor. Through its Seed, Venture, Growth, Asia, Planetary Health Investments and Principal Investments teams, Novo Holdings invests in life science companies at all stages of development. As of year-end 2023, Novo Holdings had total assets of EUR 149 billion. . About Asceneuron Asceneuron is a clinical stage biotech company focused on the development of orally bioavailable therapeutics for debilitating neurodegenerative disorders with high unmet medical need. The company's pipeline reflects its ambition and commitment to developing treatments for a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases. Asceneuron has two clinical-stage small molecule OGA inhibitors in development: ASN90 (licensed to Ferrer Pharmaceuticals) for the treatment of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and a potential best-in-class molecule, ASN51, for Alzheimer's disease. The company is also planning to advance its pre-clinical development pipeline in Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative indications. Asceneuron is backed by a renowned syndicate of investors consisting of Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF), EQT Life Sciences Dementia Fund, GSK Equities Investments Limited, Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Inc. (JJDC), Kurma Partners, M Ventures, Novo Holdings, OrbiMed, Sofinnova Partners and SR One. For more information, please visit . SOURCE Novo Holdings