Targeting toxic fibrin deposits, startup seeks to address neuroinflammation caused by vascular dysfunction.
Neurodegeneration-focused biotech Therini Bio has secured an additional $39 million in Series A extension financing, bringing the company’s total Series A funding to $75 million. The financing will primarily be used to advance the company’s lead candidate into clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease and diabetic macular edema (DME).
Therini is developing immunotherapies that target neuroinflammation caused by vascular dysfunction, a common underlying factor in a range of neurodegenerative diseases. Its scientific platform is centered on the selective inhibition of toxic fibrin deposits, which accumulate outside blood vessels due to vascular damage stemming from aging, genetic predisposition, hypertension and diabetes. These fibrin deposits activate immune responses that lead to chronic inflammation and neuronal damage.
Therini’s lead candidate, THN391, is a high-affinity, humanized monoclonal antibody developed to block fibrin-mediated inflammation without disrupting coagulation pathways. It binds to a specific inflammatory epitope on fibrin, aiming to stop the progression of neuroinflammation at an early stage. Preclinical studies demonstrated its ability to prevent vascular and neuronal degeneration in models of Alzheimer’s disease and retinal disorders.
Encouraging data from a Phase 1a clinical trial in healthy volunteers showed that THN391 was well-tolerated across a range of doses. Based on these results, the company is preparing to initiate two Phase 1b clinical trials, one in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and the other in individuals with DME.
“We have compelling preclinical evidence that blocking fibrin-mediated inflammation is effective in protecting against vascular and neuronal degeneration across multiple models of disease, including Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy,” Therini CEO Dr Tara Nickerson. “In addition, the recent results from our Phase 1a trial notably demonstrated that this novel approach with THN391 did not impact coagulation and was well-tolerated in healthy volunteers. The Series A extension financing enables us to build upon our momentum and swiftly advance THN391 into trials for the treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s and diabetic macular edema.”
The new investment round saw Apollo Health Ventures and Angelini Ventures join an established syndicate of investors including SV Health Investors’ Biotech Fund, Dementia Discovery Fund, MRL Ventures Fund, Sanofi Ventures, Eli Lilly and Company, Dolby Family Ventures and Foundation for a Better World.
“As an active CNS investor, we are excited about Therini’s first-in-class selective antibody therapy targeting fibrin-mediated inflammation, offering a groundbreaking path to transform the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and DME,” said Angelini Ventures’ Thomas Thestrup.
Photograph of Dr Tara Nickerson courtesy of Therini Bio.
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