Myrobalan Therapeutics Completes Series A Financing of $24 Million to Develop Potentially First-in-Class CNS Therapeutics with Restorative Potential
Approach leverages novel mechanisms such as remyelination and anti-neuroinflammation to address a broad spectrum of degenerative CNS diseases
Myrobalan has designed a portfolio of highly selective, orally available compounds with the potential for superior brain penetration and CNS distribution as shown in animal models
Series A financing enables Myrobalan to advance its first program into the clinic
Medford, Mass., January 10, 2024 – Myrobalan Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing novel oral neurorestorative therapies to repair damage and restore neural function in high-unmet need degenerative CNS conditions, today announced completion of a $24 million Series A funding. Funding was led by Co-win Ventures, with participation from new and existing investors including, Guan Zi Equity Investment (Li Shui) Partnership (Limited Partnership), 3E Bioventures Capital, and AB Magnitude Ventures Group.
Historically, CNS drug development has struggled from a lack of validated target biology, compounded by unique obstacles such as efficient blood-brain barrier penetration and the feasibility of long-term therapy with a convenient and tolerable dosing regimen. Myrobalan has the potential to overcome such obstacles with the development of highly selective, brain-penetrant, orally available compounds against promising novel targets involved in demyelination and neuroinflammation. These currently untreatable disease mechanisms have been linked to multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and several rare neurological conditions.
Myrobalan is developing orally available small molecule neurorestorative therapies, including an antagonist to G-protein coupled receptor 17 (GPR17), a central target to promote remyelination; an inhibitor to colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF1R), which is involved in both demyelination and neuroinflammation; and an allosteric tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, to reduce neuroinflammation. Myrobalan plans to address a broad range of neurological conditions through these programs.
“Our deep understanding of remyelination and neuroinflammation has broad application in high-unmet need CNS diseases,” said Dr. Jing Wang, CEO & Co-Founder, Myrobalan Therapeutics. “Propelled by our foundational science, strategic chemistry partnership, compelling preclinical data, and strong investors, Myrobalan is in a unique position to advance its neurorestorative candidates into the clinic.”
Myrobalan is led by a team with significant research and business experience. Dr. Wang co-founded the company in 2021 alongside Dr. Zhigang He, Professor of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, member of the National Academy of Medicine, and Dr. Guoping Feng, Poitras Chair Professor of Neuroscience in the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, Institute Member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and member of the National Academy of Medicine. Dr. Wang has held executive and leadership roles in neuroscience and oncology drug development at Curis, TESARO/GSK, and Constellation Pharmaceuticals, and successfully led multiple programs at various stages of development from discovery through commercialization. The company has also fielded a group of business advisors with extensive experience in biotech leadership, and a scientific advisory team with expertise in remyelination, neuroimmunology, drug design and clinical research.
“Myrobalan’s approach to targeting GPR17, CSF1R, TYK2 and other key drivers of CNS disease is both novel and timely,” said co-founder Dr. He. “Since our foundational research established the important roles these targets can play across multiple CNS diseases, it is exciting to see Myrobalan rapidly advancing these therapeutics for patients.”
“We are proud to support Myrobalan in their work to develop first-in-class neurorestorative therapies based on strong target biology and innovative drug design,” said Dr. Xin Huang, Managing Partner of Co-win Ventures. “And we are confident the Myrobalan team will continue advancing this rich pipeline into novel therapies. Myrobalan has the potential to change the narrative for patients with CNS disease.”
"As seed investor of Myrobalan, we are glad to witness the rapid progress of the pipelines and continuously provide support to the team." said Dr. Frank Yan, Partner at 3E Bioventures Capital. "The company's dual approach to promoting remyelination and controlling neuroinflammation is particularly exciting. Myrobalan Therapeutics' unique strategy holds great promise in overcoming challenges associated with central nervous system diseases. We believe that their innovative research will bring about positive transformations for patients. "
About Myrobalan Therapeutics
Myrobalan Therapeutics is a biotechnology company headquartered in Medford, Massachusetts, with a focus on developing oral neurorestorative therapies aimed at reversing key pathologies underlying brain dysfunctions and CNS conditions. Myrobalan applies deep knowledge of neurological processes such as demyelination and neuroinflammation, and innovative drug discovery tools, to create highly selective and brain-penetrant therapeutic candidates that are uniquely positioned for treating CNS conditions with significant unmet medical need. Myrobalan’s rich pipeline of novel remyelination and anti-neuroinflammation programs are being advanced with the strategic support of renowned institutional co-founders and a leading chemistry partner. Myrobalan is committed to a transformed future in which patients with degenerative CNS conditions can access safe and effective medicines offering restorative potential.
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迈巴制药 完成2400万美元A轮融资，用于开发具有修复中枢神经系统潜力的同类首创药物
迈巴制药靶向促进髓鞘再生和抗神经炎症等新机制，广泛治疗多种中枢神经系统退行性疾病
迈巴制药管线中的化合物具有高选择性和高口服生物利用度，这些化合物在动物模型中显示出优越的血脑屏障穿透性和中枢神经系统分布
A轮融资将推动迈巴制药的领先管线项目进入临床试验阶段
2024年1月10日，美国马萨诸塞州生物技术公司迈巴制药宣布完成2400万美元的A轮融资。该公司致力于开发新型口服神经修复疗法，旨在修复中枢神经系统损伤并恢复神经功能，以满足神经退行性疾病中的重大未满足临床需求。此次融资由凯风创投医疗（美元基金三期）领投，新老投资机构关子私募基金管理、本草资本和AB Magnitude 创投集团参与了本轮投资。
以往，中枢神经系统药物的开发一直受限于缺乏充分的靶点验证，难以获得安全、便捷、并具有良好的血脑屏障穿透性的长期治疗方法。迈巴制药有潜力克服这些障碍，通过靶向脱髓鞘和神经炎症等目前尚未被成功靶向的新机制，开发具有高度选择性和脑屏障穿透性的口服药物，用以治疗多发性硬化症（MS）、阿尔茨海默病（AD）、渐冻症（ALS）、以及一些罕见的神经系统疾病。
迈巴制药致力于开发口服神经修复疗法，包括针对促进髓鞘再生的重要靶点G-蛋白偶联受体17（GPR17）的拮抗剂；靶向参与脱髓鞘和神经炎症的集落刺激因子-1受体（CSF1R）的抑制剂；以及用于减少神经炎症的酪氨酸激酶2（TYK2）变构抑制剂。迈巴制药计划利用这些管线项目来治疗多种神经系统疾病。
“我们对髓鞘再生和神经炎症的深刻理解在具有重大未满足临床需求的中枢神经系统疾病治疗中具有广泛的应用价值。”迈巴制药首席执行官兼联合创始人王静博士表示，“以我们坚实的的科学基础、战略性的合作策略、令人信服的临床前数据和强有力的投资机构为推动力，迈巴制药将以其独特的优势迅速推进其神经修复候选药物的临床试验。”
迈巴制药由一支拥有丰富的研究经验和商业经验的团队领导。王博士于2021年与哈佛大学医学院神经病学和眼科学教授、美国国家医学院院士何志刚博士，以及麻省理工学院麦戈文脑研究所神经科学Poitras讲席教授、麻省理工学院和哈佛大学博德研究所成员、美国国家医学院院士冯国平博士共同创立了迈巴制药。王博士曾在Curis、TESARO/GSK和星座制药（Constellation Pharmaceuticals）等公司担任神经科学和肿瘤药物开发的高管和领导职务，并成功领导了从药物发现到商业化等各个开发发展阶段的多个项目。该公司还拥有一批由生物技术领域高管组成的，具有丰富药物开发经验的业务顾问，以及一支在髓鞘再生、神经免疫学、药物设计和临床研究方面具有顶级专业知识的资深科学顾问团队。
“迈巴制药针对GPR17、CSF1R、TYK2和其他中枢神经系统疾病关键驱动因素的方法既新颖又及时，”联合创始人何志刚博士谈到，“我们的基础研究确定了这些靶点能够在多种中枢神经系统疾病中发挥重要作用，因此能看到迈巴制药快速推动这些疗法、造福患者，我们感到十分激动。”
凯风创投（Co-win Ventures）的管理合伙人黄昕博士表示：“我们很荣幸能支持迈巴制药基于强大的靶点生物学和创新药物设计而开发的同类首创神经修复化合物。我们坚信迈巴制药团队能够持续推动其丰富的管线并开发出新颖的疗法。迈巴制药有潜力改变中枢神经系统疾病患者的境遇。”
“作为迈巴制药的种子投资人，我们很高兴见证了该公司项目的快速发展，并不断为团队提供支持，”本草资本合伙人颜士翔博士说，“该公司针对促进髓鞘再生和控制神经炎症双管齐下，尤为令人振奋。迈巴制药的独特战略在克服与中枢神经系统疾病相关的挑战方面具有巨大的潜力。我们相信，他们的创新研发将为患者带来积极的转变。”
迈巴制药简介 迈巴制药是一家总部位于马萨诸塞州的生物技术公司，专注于开发口服神经修复疗法，旨在逆转导致大脑功能障碍和中枢神经系统疾病的关键病理过程。迈巴制药运用对脱髓鞘和神经炎症等机制的深入了解，以及创新的药物发现工具，开发出具有高度选择性和脑屏障穿透性的候选治疗药物，这些化合物在治疗具有重大未满足医疗需求的中枢神经系统疾病方面具有独特的优势。在世界知名的科学联合创始人和领先的化学合作伙伴的战略支持下，迈巴制药正在努力推进其丰富的新型髓鞘再生和抗神经炎症管线项目。迈巴制药致力于改变中枢神经系统退行性疾病的未来，使患者能够获得安全有效、具有修复潜力的药物。