Fundraisings and IPOs

* On October 7, 2014, Atopix Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative CRTH2 antagonists for allergic disease, announced the addition of SR One to its investor syndicate and the appointment of Dr Deborah Harland, Partner, SR One to the Board of Directors, following an extension to its Series A financing. The additional funds provided by SR One will be used to complete the evaluation of Atopix’s lead CRTH2 antagonist OC459 in atopic dermatitis and to assess the safety and pharmacokinetic profile of its highly potent back-up molecule ATX2417 in Phase I studies.

* On May 29, 2013, Atopix Therapeutics has announced that it has been awarded a £1.7 million grant from the UK Biomedical Catalyst fund to pursue development of OC459 in the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Atopix has acquired rights to OC459 and other CRTH2 antagonists from Oxagen Ltd.  OC459 has successfully completed proof-of-concept clinical trials in asthma and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.  OC459 is a highly potent and selective CRTH2 antagonist which is effective in asthma when given once a day at doses as low as 25 mg.

CRTH2 is a G protein coupled receptor that is selectively expressed by key cell types mediating allergic responses – Th2 lymphocytes, basophils and eosinophils – and is activated by prostaglandin D2, an abundant lipid product of mast cells.  Mast cell-dependent activation of Th2 lymphocytes and eosinophils is blocked by CRTH2 antagonists which reduce both allergic sensitisation and effector responses to allergen.  The prostaglandin D2/CRTH2 pathway is up-regulated in severe allergic conditions and functional polymorphisms in CRTH2 are associated with asthma and atopic dermatitis.

Atopix now plans to study the effect of once daily treatment with OC459 for 6 months in patients with atopic dermatitis whose condition is poorly controlled by existing therapies.  The study is powered to detect an effect on flares, the major health economic burden in atopic dermatitis.  The primary endpoint of the study will be the Eczema Activity Severity Index.  Atopix will also determine whether functional genetic polymorphisms in CRTH2 influence the therapeutic response to OC459.

The award from the Biomedical Catalyst follows a £3.7 million Series A funding led by MPM Capital, SV Life Sciences and Wellington Partners with additional participation by Bessemer Partners and Red Abbey.  In connection with the financing Luke Evnin, Managing Director of MPM Capital, Mike Carter Venture Partner at SV Life Sciences and Regina Hodits, General Partner at Wellington Partners have joined Tim Edwards (Chairman), Mark Payton (CEO), Alan Ezekowitz, CEO and Chairman of Abide Therapeutics and former SVP Respiratory and Immunology franchise at Merck Research Laboratories and Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University as members of the Board.