USA – Inspirna, a New York-based clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, raised $50M in Series D funding.
The round was led by Sands Capital and Vivo Capital, with participation from Dreavent 6, Novo Holdings A/S, Sofinnova Partners, Sixty Degree Capital Fund, New York City Investment Fund LLC, and Lepu Holdings. In addition, Michael Ginder, of Sands Capital, and Jack Nielsen, of Vivo Capital, will join Inspirna’s Board of Directors.Led by CEO Masoud Tavazoie, Inspirna is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel cancer drugs that target key pathways in cancers of high unmet need. Its lead drug candidate, RGX-202-01, is an orally-administered small molecule that targets the CKB/SLC6A8 pathway. This pathway becomes activated in the tumors of select patients where it enables the generation of the energy molecule ATP in response to tumor hypoxia. RGX-202-01 is currently being tested in a Phase 1b clinical trial in combination with standard-of-care FOLFIRI and bevacizumab for the second line treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic CRC. In addition, the company is advancing RGX-104, an oral small molecule activator of LXR/APOE that inhibits angiogenesis and tumor myeloid derived suppressor cells to enhance the immune response against tumors. RGX-104 is currently being tested in a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial in APOE biomarker enriched patients with advanced or metastatic lung cancer or endometrial cancer.The company intends to use the funds to support the clinical development of RGX-202-01 and RGX-104. 11/07/2022
