Frazier Healthcare Ventures and Domain Associates have joined forces to lead a $27 million Series B for Nuon Therapeutics, a San Mateo, CA-based developer working on new therapies for autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases and pain. Australia's GBS Venture Partners also participated. This is a big step up for Nuon, which raised $5 million for its Series A last year. The new money will go to fund a mid-stage trial of tranilast, an orally active compound. Already marketed in Japan and South Korea for asthma and atopic dermatitis, Nuon is researching how the therapy reduces activated T- and B-cells in animal models of rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
"We are very excited about the possibilities presented by tranilast in autoimmune indications, and made this investment based upon the long clinical history of tranilast and its efficacy profile in models of autoimmune disease," said Alan Frazier, founder and managing partner of Frazier Healthcare Ventures.
- check out the Nuon's release
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