04-Jan-2019
Atriva Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of host-targeting antiviral therapies, announced the first closing in its ongoing series A financing round lead by Meneldor and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF). The Company founders and management joined the round, also. These funds will be focused to prepare first-in-humans clinical testing of the Company’s lead product candidate ATR-002, to be started in 2019. ATR-002 is a first-in-class host-targeting inhibitor of viral replication in influenza and other respiratory infections, an important area of high unmet medical need. The Company will secure additional series A funds for the Phase I and Phase II development of ATR-002 through proof of concept trials.
During 2018, Atriva Therapeutics successfully completed preclinical development of ATR-002 and recently filed a request for scientific advice from a European regulatory authority to provide guidance on the executed preclinical development program and the planned ATR-002 Phase I study in healthy volunteers.
The Company is now advancing ATR-002 towards full clinical development, focusing on patients with influenza at high risk of developing complications. ATR-002 is a MEK inhibitor, targeting a fundamental cellular protein of the replication pathway of influenza-causing viruses and other respiratory viral infections. MEK inhibitors have shown high potential as efficacious and safe antiviral drugs to address the need for a novel, broadly active and resistance-avoiding influenza therapy.
“This first closing is a strong show of support for our novel host-targeting approach in influenza therapy and is a very encouraging signal for the ongoing series A financing round. We are excited that our technology is attracting great interest among potential partners and leading specialist venture capital firms,” said Dr. Rainer Lichtenberger, co-founder and CEO of Atriva Therapeutics. “Clinical trial preparations are ongoing, and we look forward to the next important milestones in the validation of our unique therapeutic approach.”
Read the article here.