CANTON, Mass. - Tuesday, 10. December 2024 AETOSWire
Orthogon’s small molecule therapeutics redefine treatment possibilities for BK virus infections.
(BUSINESS
WIRE) -- Orthogon Therapeutics, a developer of novel antiviral
medicines, today announced the closing of an oversubscribed financing
round, exceeding its $5M target and bringing total funding to over $25M.
This funding will accelerate the development of its first-in-class
treatments for managing BK virus reactivation in transplant patients.
The
company has successfully developed small molecule drugs that directly
target viral proteins essential to the polyomavirus life cycle.
Polyomaviruses lack conventional antiviral protein targets and have
eluded drug development for decades. Backed by a diversified investor
base and a pipeline of drugs with unique mechanisms of action, Orthogon
is addressing this area of urgent unmet medical need.
“Our
high-affinity small molecule antivirals rival the potency of biologics
without their drawbacks,” said Dr. Stephen Weeks, VP of Structural
Biology at Orthogon Therapeutics. “This achievement highlights our
platform’s ability to target previously undruggable viral proteins.”
This
breakthrough coincides with Orthogon’s creation of a pioneering animal
model to study BK polyomavirus pathology. Historically, researchers have
lacked in vivo insights into BK virus disease progression. This model
deepens understanding of disease mechanisms and provides a robust
platform for testing therapies, solidifying Orthogon’s leadership in
addressing barriers to polyomavirus treatments.
The company’s
therapeutic strategy offers the first comprehensive solution to managing
the full BK virus risk ladder—from early reactivation, indicated by
virus shedding in the urine, to systemic spread and severe complications
such as BKVAN, graft dysfunction, and transplant failure. By
intervening at the earliest stages of reactivation, this approach
extends treatment benefits to more patients, reduces the need for
aggressive late-stage interventions, and improves long-term transplant
success.
“It is incredibly rewarding to see our drug designs
progress from the bench into translational models,” said Ali H. Munawar,
Ph.D., CEO of Orthogon Therapeutics. “Our small molecule antivirals
offer unique advantages over emerging therapies, overcoming challenges
in delivery, stability, and—most importantly—reaching the intracellular
sites of viral replication in the kidney. These capabilities, combined
with the dosing flexibility of oral administration, enable us to close
significant gaps in transplant patient care.”
This strategic
raise underscores Orthogon’s disciplined approach to capitalization,
enabling focused progress on high-impact milestones and reinforcing
investor confidence in its mission to deliver the first orally
administered therapy for BK polyomavirus infections.
About BK and Polyomaviruses:
BK
virus (BKV), a member of the polyomavirus family, establishes a
lifelong, persistent yet silent infection in over 80% of healthy adults.
BK virus reactivation occurs in the kidneys of nearly half of all solid
organ and stem cell transplant patients, leading to severe
complications and graft loss. Other human polyomaviruses, such as JC
virus and Merkel Cell polyomavirus, cause fatal progressive multifocal
leukoencephalopathy (PML) and aggressive Merkel cell carcinoma.
About Orthogon Therapeutics:
Orthogon
leverages advanced structure-based drug design and biophysics to create
groundbreaking therapies for challenging drug targets. To learn more,
visit www.orthogontherapeutics.com.
Orthogon Therapeutics, LLC is
an independent, privately held R&D company affiliated with the
Pledge Therapeutics discovery platform. The company is headquartered in
the biotech hub of Greater Boston with a branch in Leuven, Belgium. More
info at www.pledge-tx.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241210996847/en/
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Contacts
Ali H. Munawar, Ph.D.
amunawar@orthogontherapeutics.com
1-339-502-8643
Maria Martin
mmartin@pledge-tx.com
1-339-502-8630
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