After shifting its focus to immuno-oncology last year, Germany's Isarna Therapeutics has pulled down $7.6 million to jump-start the development of some preclinical cancer candidates.
The latest financing comes on the heels of a $17.8 million round revealed in January, looping in previous investors AT NewTec, Global Asset Funds and MIG Fonds, the biotech said.
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| Growth factor TGF-β's role in cancer metastasis, and thus as a treatment target--Courtesy of NIH |
Isarna, formerly known as Antisense Pharma, is wholly focused on its preclinical pipeline of treatments that target human transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), a cytokine that is often elevated in fibrosis, cancer and other diseases. TGF-β's overexpression allows tumor cells to elude the immune system's natural defenses, and Isarna's candidates are designed to break the chain and spur an immuno assault on cancer.
Last fall, recruitment issues forced the Munich biotech to pull the plug on a Phase III trial for its lead asset, the glioblastoma-treating trabedersen, and Isarna eventually ditched that program due to serious safety concerns.
Now, after some streamlining and a name change, the biotech has re-emerged with three preclinical products and a handful of discovery-stage candidates, each targeting TGF-β with hopes of treating cancer, ocular diseases and fibrosis.
Alongside the new cash, Isarna recruited former Cancer Genetics ($CGIX) CFO Elizabeth Czerepak to serve the same role, bringing in experience from Roche ($RHHBY), Merck ($MRK) and the venture capital world.
- read the statement (PDF)