The concept of using protein homeostasis – or proteostasis – as a platform for drug development is a rather new one, but it makes a good amount of sense: Maintaining a proper balance of protein production in the body is critical to a person’s health. Proteostasis makes sure every protein within a cell either is folded as it should be and delivered to complete its slated function, or it’s flagged and destroyed to avoid any damage caused by a faulty protein.
Cambridge startup Proteostasis Therapeutics is drumming up $10 million in an equity round to pursue this tech as it applies to cystic fibrosis and a number of orphan diseases, according to regulatory filings. Its platform helps protein folding to occur as it should, instead of degrading as it does in many disease states.
The company gives an overview of its technology:
When Investment Rhymes with Canada
Canada has a proud history of achievement in the areas of science and technology, and the field of biomanufacturing and life sciences is no exception.
This is a relatively small raise for the well-capitalized company – it has a good deal of investment from outside pharma partners, and debuted on the biotech scene in 2008 with an impressive $45 million venture financing from HealthCare Ventures, Fidelity Biosciences, New Enterprise Associates, Novartis Option Fund and Genzyme Ventures. As an example, Proteostasis teamed up with Biogen Idec late last year in a deal worth up to $200 million; it focuses on proteosome activators that could help in the degradation seen in diseases like Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s.
