vWF

One concern about the GLP-1 class of metabolic disorder drugs is that the weight patients lose includes muscle as well as fat. BioAge Labs wants to test whether its experimental medication, dosed alongside Eli Lilly’s weight management drug Zepbound, can preserve muscle mass. The startup recently closed $170 million to finance a mid-stage clinical trial. BioAge develops drugs that address aspects of human aging. Its lead drug candidate, azelaprag, is a small molecule designed to bind to and activate the apelin receptor, which regulates muscle metabolism, growth, and repair. This drug came from the labs of Amgen, which initially developed it for treating heart failure. Amgen’s Phase 1 tests showed the drug hit its target with a clean safety profile, BioAge CEO Kristen Fortney told MedCity News in a 2022 interview. But as a heart drug, the results were “not dramatic,” she said. Amgen elected to shelve the molecule. Richmond, California-based BioAge licensed it from the pharma giant in 2021, with the goal of testing it as a way of preserving muscle mass in elderly people. In BioAge’s Phase 1b study enrolling 21 participants age 65 and older, results showed the experimental drug led to statistically significant prevention of muscle atrophy relative to a placebo after 10 days of bed rest. The company planned to proceed to larger Phase 2 test enrolling intensive care unit patients, who can lose more than 15% of their muscle mass in just one week, according to published research. Last fall, BioAge announced the Phase 2 trial would go in a different direction. Instead of testing azelaprag in ICU patients, the trial will evaluate the drug alongside Eli Lilly’s Zepbound. The injectable drug, which activates the GLP-1 and GIP receptors, is an incretin mimetic, a type of drug that works by mimicking hormones found in the gut. The new clinical trial plan is based on preclinical research in obese mice. Results reported last year showed that treating the mice with both azelaprag and Lilly’s drug led to greater weight loss than what was achieved with the Lilly drug alone. The drug pairing also led to improvement in body composition and muscle function. Under a collaboration agreement, Lilly will supply Zepbound for BioAge’s trial, which will be run in collaboration with Chorus, a small independent clinical development organization within the pharma giant. BioAge adjusted its focus for azelaprag after the company’s technology uncovered new insight about the molecule. The BioAge discovery platform, built on analysis of human longevity data, identified a link between the apelin pathway activity and physical function during aging, Fortney said in an email. While the Phase 1b clinical trial led to results showing significant muscle and metabolic benefits in healthy elderly volunteers on bed rest, the molecule’s mechanism has multiple potential applications, Fortney said. “Obesity is the indication we are focusing on given the strong weight loss synergy we see preclinically with incretins,” she said. “This is an oral drug with the potential to increase weight loss quantity with a fully oral regimen, as well as to improve weight loss quality.” Fortney said BioAge will share more details on the design of the Phase 2 trial in the future, but the study will compare azelaprag (known at BioAge as BGE-105) in combination with Zepbound versus Zepbound alone. The primary endpoint will be weight loss. In addition, the company will monitor exploratory endpoints related to improvement of body composition—the balance of lean mass to fat mass. BioAge’s new capital will finance the planned Phase 2 test, which is on track to start in mid-2024. The Series D round was led by Sofinnova Investments. New investors joining the financing include Longitude Capital, RA Capital Management, Cormorant Asset Management, RTW Investments, SV Health Investors, OrbiMed Advisors, Sands Capital, Pivotal bioVenture Partners, Osage University Partners, Lilly Ventures, and Amgen Ventures. The latest round also included participation from earlier investor Andreessen Horowitz. Here’s a look at other recent life science industry financing activity: —Frontier Medicines, developer of targeted medicines for oncology and immunology, closed $80 million in financing to support its pipeline. The biotech’s most advanced program is FMC-376, which is in development for treating patients whose cancer is positive for KRAS G12C. This mutation was first drugged by Lumakras from Amgen and then Krazati from Mirati Therapeutics. Both drugs lock KRAS G12C protein in an inactive state. Frontier’s drug candidate is designed to block this cancer-driving protein in either its active or inactive states, potentially offering an option for patients who have not responded to the Amgen or Mirati drugs. In addition to supporting FMC-376, which recently dosed the first patient in a Phase 1/2 study, Frontier said the new capital will support other wholly owned programs in its pipeline. Deerfield Management Company and Droia Venture co-led the company’s Series C financing, which also included “significant participation” by Belgium-based drugmaker Galapagos. Frontier last raised money in 2021, an $88.5 million Series B round. —Firefly Bio revealed $94 million to finance R&D of degrader antibody conjugates, or DACs, which carry a protein degrader as the drug payload. In preclinical research, the biotech said its drugs led to “significant reduction of tumor volume at very low doses.” Firefly was incubated by Versant Ventures, which co-led the startup’s Series A financing with MPM BioImpact. —Roche, already an investor in liquid biopsy company Freenome, led an additional $254 million financing for the company. South San Francisco-based Freenome will apply the cash toward ongoing pivotal clinical trials evaluating its blood screening technology in colorectal cancer and lung cancer. The company is also conducting a study of its technology as a way to detect multiple cancers. Roche last invested in Freenome two years ago, a $290 million infusion that followed the company’s $300 million Series D financing. —Latigo Biotherapeutics launched with $135 million to finance clinical development of a non-opioid drug that blocks NaV1.8, a sodium channel associated with pain. It’s the same target addressed by a Vertex Pharmaceuticals drug candidate that recently posted data showing it met its main Phase 3 goal assessing pain relief compared to a placebo. But on a secondary goal of showing superiority to standard of care Vicodin, the Vertex drug came up short. Thousand Oaks, California-based Latigo claims its drug could be best in the class of NaV1.8 inhibitors with rapid onset, meaningful efficacy, and superior safety. It’s currently in Phase 1 testing. Latigo’s Series A financing was led by Westlake Village BioPartners, which incubated the startup. —Cancer immunotherapy developer NextPoint Therapeutics added $42.5 million to its Series B financing, bringing the round’s total to $122.5 million. The drugs of Cambridge, Massachusetts-based NextPoint target the HHLA2 pathway. NextPoint first announced its Series B round last year. —Sudo Biosciences expanded its Series B financing by $31 million, bringing the round’s total to $147 million. The new investors are Dementia Discovery Fund, Leaps by Bayer, and UPMC Enterprises. Carmel, Indiana-based Sudo emerged from stealth in 2022 to develop small molecule drugs that address TYK2, an autoimmune disease target first hit by the Bristol Myers Squibb drug Sotyktu. —Alys Pharmaceuticals launched with $100 million from Medicxi, the investment firm that formed the company. The preclinical biotech, which focuses on developing treatments for immune disorders of the skin, was formed by combining six Medicxi portfolio companies. Target indications include atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, psoriasis, and mastocytosis. —Antibody drug conjugate developer ProfoundBio closed $112 million in financing, which will be applied to clinical development of its pipeline. Lead program rinatbart sesuctecan, or Rina-S, targets folate receptor alpha, a validated cancer target. A pivotal Phase 1/2 study is underway in ovarian cancer. Ally Bridge Group led the Seattle-based biotech’s Series B round. ProfoundBio, whose management team brings experience from ADC specialist Seagen, emerged in 2021 backed by a $55 million Series A financing. —Areteia Therapeutics expanded its Series A round by $75 million with the addition of new investors Viking Global Investors and Marshall Wace. The Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based biotech’s Series A financing was announced at $350 million in 2022. Lead drug candidate dexpramipexole comes from the labs of Knopp Biosciences. Areteia is currently testing the molecule in three Phase 3 clinical trials enrolling patients with eosinophilic asthma, a severe form of asthma. —Basking Biosciences raised $55 million in a financing led by Arch Venture Partners. Columbus, Ohio-based Basking will use the capital to continue clinical development of BB-031, a potential treatment for acute ischemic stroke. The Basking drug is a reversible RNA aptamer designed to target von Willebrand factor, a clotting protein. BB-031 is engineered for both rapid onset and short duration of effect. Basking plans to start Phase 2 testing later this year. —Neurona Therapeutics, developer of regenerative medicines for neurological disorders, closed $120 million in financing. The San Francisco-based biotech makes cell therapies from human pluripotent stem cells, which have the ability to become almost any type of cell. Neurona will apply the capital toward ongoing Phase 1/2 testing of NRTX-1001, developed as a one-time treatment to silence epileptic seizures. Viking Global Investors and Cormorant Asset Management co-led Neurona’s Series E round. —Cour Pharmaceuticals has already out-licensed a celiac disease therapeutic candidate to Takeda Pharmaceuticals, which has advanced the nanoparticle-based therapy to Phase 2 testing. Chicago-based Cour wants to develop its own drug candidates and it raised $105 million to support programs in type 1 diabetes and myasthenia gravis. Lumira Ventures and Alpha Wave Ventures co-led the Series A financing, which included participation from three big pharma companies. —Eyconis, a new company formed with assets from Ascendis Pharma, launched with a $150 million financing commitment from an investor syndicate that includes Frazier Life Sciences, RA Capital Management, venBio, and HealthQuest Capital. Eyconis, which will operate from Redwood City, California, has ophthalmology assets developed from Ascendis’s Transcon platform. Ascendis, which has an equity stake in Eyconis, granted the biotech rights to develop and commercialize Transcon ophthalmology products globally. —Synnovation Therapeutics, founded and led by veterans of Incyte, launched with $102 million for small molecule drugs addressing validated cancer targets. Lead program SNV1521 is a PARP1 inhibitor that is highly selective to that target and also has the ability to penetrate into the central nervous system. The Wilmington, Delaware-based company is testing this molecule in a Phase 1 clinical trial. Third Rock Ventures led Synnovation’s Series A financing, which included participation from Nextech, Lilly Asia Ventures, Sirona Capital, and Cormorant Asset Management. Photo by Eli Lilly

COLUMBUS, Ohio--( BUSINESS WIRE )--Basking Biosciences (Basking), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a novel acute thrombolytic therapy to treat stroke, today announced the close of a $55 million financing. New investor ARCH Venture Partners led the round, with participation from additional new investors Insight Partners, Platanus, Solas BioVentures and RTW Investments, as well as existing investors Longview Ventures, Rev1 Ventures and The Ohio State University. Steven Gillis, Ph.D., Managing Director of ARCH Venture Partners will serve as Chairman of Basking’s Board of Directors . “With the support and funding from our outstanding syndicate of life science investors, alongside the deep expertise of our Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board, we are eager to advance our innovative pipeline and improve patient outcomes,” said Richard Shea, Chief Executive Officer of Basking. Basking will utilize the proceeds to accelerate clinical development of BB-031, a first-in-class, reversible RNA aptamer targeting von Willebrand Factor (vWF), engineered for rapid onset and short duration of effect. In 2023, the company announced positive Phase 1 results demonstrating the safety and tolerability of BB-031 with no serious adverse events reported, and dose-dependent inhibition of vWF. Basking will initiate a Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial, the RAISE trial, in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in 2024. “Many ischemic stroke patients have no acute therapeutic option available and there is an ongoing need for innovative new approaches to expand treatment success,” commented Michael Hill, M.D., Professor for the Departments of Clinical Neurosciences, Community Health Sciences, Medicine and Radiology at the University of Calgary and Foothills Medical Centre. “We look forward to evaluating BB-031’s potential to improve outcomes in the RAISE study.” In addition to the RAISE trial, Basking will use the funds to advance BB-025, a complementary rapid-acting reversal oligonucleotide capable of quickly neutralizing the pharmacological activity of BB-031, through a Phase 1 clinical program. “BB-031 is designed to be safer and more effective than available treatments and to effectively resolve thrombosis beyond the limited therapeutic window of the currently available pharmacological option,” said Shahid M. Nimjee, M.D., Ph.D., co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Basking, and Professor of Neurosurgery and Surgical Director of the Comprehensive Stroke Center at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Basking’s development program is based on two decades of translational research on RNA aptamers as therapeutic agents for cardiovascular diseases in the lab of Dr. Bruce Sullenger, Ph.D., co-founder and scientific advisor of Basking, a Joseph W. And Dorothy W. Beard Distinguished Professor of Experimental Surgery, and the Director of the Duke Center for Translational Research. About Acute Ischemic Stroke Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS) is the leading cause of combined mortality and morbidity worldwide, and 87% of all strokes are ischemic. According to WHO, 15 million people suffer strokes each year, leading to more than 5 million deaths. Global incidence is rising with aging populations. In high-income countries alone, annual direct stroke-related medical costs plus indirect costs due to premature mortality and loss of productivity are projected to exceed $826 billion by 2050. While intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) and endovascular mechanical thrombectomy are available to treat acute ischemic stroke, both treatments are limited by time and clot location respectively, leaving almost 85% of patients without any acute intervention. About Basking Biosciences Basking Biosciences, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, was founded to solve the biggest need in acute thrombosis – for a rapid-onset, short-acting thrombolytic drug capable of reopening blocked arteries, and whose activity can be quickly reversed in the event of a bleeding complication. Leveraging RNA aptamer technology, our lead drug candidate, BB-031, targets von Willebrand Factor (vWF), an important structural component of blood clots and driver of the clotting process, and is designed to be safer, more effective, and able to greatly expand the population receiving acute revascularization therapy. For more information, visit BaskingBiosciences.com .

STOCKHOLM, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sobi® will present new data at the 17th European Association of Haemophilia and Allied Disorders (EAHAD) conference in Frankfurt from 6-9 February 2024. The studies that will be presented support Sobi's ongoing commitment to evolving treatment options for people with haemophilia. "We are proud to showcase new data at EAHAD 2024, including several new data sets that add to the substantial evidence supporting the use of efanesoctocog alfa in children and highlighting improvements in patient-reported outcomes. Our hope is that these advancements will open new possibilities for people with haemophilia," said Lydia Abad-Franch, Head of R&D and Chief Medical Officer at Sobi. "We will also present further data reinforcing the comprehensive evidence supporting the safety and effectiveness of Elocta® and Alprolix®. Sobi's involvement at EAHAD underscores our continued dedication to advancing knowledge and raising standards of care." Key Sobi data to be presented at EAHAD 2024 All presentations can be accessed via the official EAHAD 2024 website. About efanesoctocog alfa Efanesoctocog alfa [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), Fc-VWF-XTEN Fusion Protein] (formerly BIVV001) is a new class and investigational recombinant factor VIII therapy with the potential to deliver near-normal factor activity levels for a significant parts of the week, improving bleed protection in a once-weekly dose for people with haemophilia A. Efanesoctocog alfa builds on the innovative Fc fusion technology by adding a region of von Willebrand factor and XTEN® polypeptides to extend its time in circulation. It is the only therapy that has been shown to break through the von Willebrand factor ceiling, which imposes a half-life limitation on current factor VIII therapies. It is approved and marketed as ALTUVIIIO™ [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), Fc-VWF-XTEN Fusion Protein-ehtl] by Sanofi in the United States, Japan and Taiwan. The European Commission granted Orphan Drug designation in June 2019, and the European Medicines Agency accepted the Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for efanesoctocog alfa in May 2023. About Elocta®/Eloctate® Elocta®/Eloctate® (efmoroctocog alfa) is a recombinant clotting factor therapy developed for haemophilia A using Fc fusion technology to prolong circulation in the body. It is engineered by fusing factor VIII to the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G subclass 1, or IgG1 (a protein commonly found in the body), enabling Elocta to use a naturally occurring pathway to extend the time the therapy remains in the body (half-life). Elocta is manufactured using a human cell line in an environment free of animal and human additives. Elocta is approved and marketed by Sobi for the treatment of haemophilia A in the EU, the UK, Iceland, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Norway, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland. It is approved and marketed as Eloctate® (Antihemophilic Factor [Recombinant], Fc Fusion Protein) by Sanofi in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and other countries, where Sanofi has the marketing rights. About Alprolix® Alprolix® (eftrenonacog alfa) is a recombinant clotting factor therapy developed for haemophilia B using Fc fusion technology to prolong circulation in the body. It is engineered by fusing factor IX to the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G subclass 1, or IgG1 (a protein commonly found in the body), enabling Alprolix to use a naturally occurring pathway to extend the time the therapy remains in the body (half-life). Alprolix is manufactured using a human cell line in an environment free of animal and human additives. Alprolix is approved and marketed by Sobi for the treatment of haemophilia B in the EU, the UK, Iceland, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Norway, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland. It is also approved in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and other countries where Sanofi has the marketing rights. About the Sanofi and Sobi collaboration Sobi and Sanofi collaborate on the development and commercialisation of Alprolix® and Elocta®/Eloctate®. The companies also collaborate on the development and commercialisation of efanesoctocog alfa or ALTUVIIIO™ in the US. Sobi has final development and commercialisation rights in the Sobi territory (essentially Europe, North Africa, Russia, and most Middle Eastern markets). Sanofi has final development and commercialisation rights in North America and all other regions in the world excluding the Sobi territory. Sobi® Sobi® is a specialised international biopharmaceutical company transforming the lives of people with rare and debilitating diseases. Providing reliable access to innovative medicines in the areas of haematology, immunology and specialty care, Sobi has approximately 1,800 employees across Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. In 2022, revenue amounted to SEK 18.8 billion. Sobi's share (STO:SOBI) is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. More about Sobi at sobi.com, LinkedIn and YouTube. Contacts For details on how to contact the Sobi Investor Relations Team, please click here. For Sobi Media contacts, click here. The following files are available for download: