Catabasis raises $40 million to fund omega-3 linker platform
This article was originally published in Scrip
Catabasis Pharmaceuticals has raised $39.6 million in a series A financing led by SV Life Sciences, Clarus Ventures and MedImmune Ventures, with Advanced Technology Ventures also participating.
The proceeds will be used to advance Catabasis's lead programme, which is focused on type 2 diabetes, and to develop the US firm's platform technology in additional inflammatory and metabolic diseases.
Catabasis is focused on targeting inflammation to treat complex human diseases. Recent studies suggest that salsalate – a prodrug form of salicylate with anti-inflammatory activity – improves glucose homeostasis in type 2 diabetes, said the company, and these insights are of keen interest to Catabasis.
The company has developed the SMART-linker technology platform to produce new chemical entities that pair salicylate and omega-3 fatty acids to produce synergistic effects that "simultaneously inhibit pro-inflammatory pathways and activate anti-inflammatory pathways", explained Dr Jill Milne, co-founder and CEO of Catabasis. "Based on our progress to date, we expect to file an investigational new drug application in 2011."
Omega-3 fatty acids, such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), are already involved in the treatment of atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases (for example, Omacor/Lovaza, the marine-derived omega-3 treatment for high triglyceride levels developed and marketed by Pronova in Europe and sold by GlaxoSmithKline in the US).
More recently, studies have suggested their therapeutic potential in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, age-related macular degeneration and cancer, the company added.