Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals has rounded up $15 million and positive early-stage safety data, positioning the start-up developer for a mid-stage clinical trial of its lead therapy for cardiovascular disease. Aurora Funds and New Enterprise Associates provided the fresh infusion of cash.
Researchers investigated CXL-1020 in 28 patients at seven sites, citing positive safety and tolerability results for the subjects suffering from chronic stable heart failure. The program is now bound for a Phase II for study acute decompensated heart failure.
"Results from our recently completed Phase I/IIa dose escalation study demonstrate that the drug has a very attractive safety profile and an important impact on cardiac and vascular function," said CEO Chris Kroeger, M.D. "We also believe that CXL-1020 is the only product in development that provides the ideal balance of blood vessel dilation combined with direct enhancement of cardiac diastolic and systolic function."
The Chapel Hill, NC-based biotech is working with technology licensed from Johns Hopkins, which demonstrated the positive cardio effects of nitroxyl in the lab. The lead drug is designed to follow unique pathways to spur blood vessel dilation with and simultaneously enhance cardiac relaxation and systolic function.
- see the Cardioxyl release