AsclepiX Therapeutics, Inc. has raised $10 million in Series A-3 financing to support the next phase of its clinical development program for neovascular retinal diseases.
Let’s start with the company.
Based in Baltimore, Maryland, AsclepiX Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapeutics to transform the treatment of retinal diseases and cancer.
How are they doing this?
By using computational biology to identify potent peptide regulators of vascular homeostasis.
And the financing?
The company’s funding round was led by Perceptive Advisors and included Hibiscus Capital Management Fund III and Rapha Capital Management—along with Rapha Capital PE LIfe Sciences Fund VI, its managed fund—as well as a new, unnamed outside investor.
Back to the clinical side … what’s the lead candidate?
AXT107 (gersizangitide) is an integrin-regulating peptide with a novel mechanism of action (MOA) that can possibly block neovascularization (angiogenesis), reduces vascular permeability, and represses vascular inflammation.
When in the form of a microparticulate suspension, AXT107 has the potential to maintain sustained biological activity via intraocular injection.
It is currently being studied for the treatment of wet AMD, diabetic macular edema (DME), and retinal vein occlusion (RVO).
What makes it unique?
With an inherent low aqueous solubility, an injection of AXT107 may provide “substantial durability”—leading to a dramatic reduction in treatment burden typically associated with the current standard of care, according to AsclepiX.
Any clinical data on it yet?
Pending!
The company is planning to launch the DISCOVERY study—an open-label, single-injection, dose-escalating, phase 1/2a clinical study for wet AMD.
Investigators will assess the safety, tolerability, bioactivity, and duration of action (DOA) of three doses of AXT107 over a 40-week period.
What will the doses be?
No official word … however, a previous 48-week trial (NCT04746963) conducted by the company on AXT107 for wet AMD used the following three doses:
- Low dose → 0.1 mg/eye
- Mid dose → 0.25 mg/eye
- High dose → 0.5 mg/eye
Interesting … so when will enrollment begin for this upcoming trial?
Per AsclepiX’s Amir Shojaei, PharmD, PhD, AsclepiX’s CSO and executive vice president, enrollment will commence in early 2024.