Former Genzyme CEO Henri Termeer led a new investment round for Artax Biopharma, a Cambridge startup developing small molecule immunomodulator drugs that treat autoimmune disease.
The drugs work as a neutral treatment that helps activate the immune system – ostensibly working in multiple indications like multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, irritable bowel disease, type 1 diabetes and others.
The $10 million Series B will advance Artax’s lead compound, AX-024, through Phase 1b/2a trials, as well as to advance the platform further. AX-024 works as a highly selective immunomodulator of T-cell receptor signaling in autoimmune T-cells, CEO Damia Tormo said in a phone interview.
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The underlying technology comes from Spanish National Council researcher Dr. Balbino Alarcon. He’ll continue to research the cytoplasmic adapter proteins that help activate T-cells – developing Nck inhibitors that can help shut down an autoimmune response.
“In autoimmune disease, the immune system gets activated when there’s some stress or change in the environment – but with a weak signal,” Tormo said. “Nck amplifies these weak signals. So by blocking the amplifier of these weak signals, we can block the t-cells that are working against a patient’s own body.”
Thus far, the company is reporting that AX-024 has been well-tolerated in safety trials – and that it does work in an immunomodulatory fashion on rogue T-cells.
“Artax is pursuing breakthrough science: a targeted immunomodulatory approach for autoimmune diseases that does not compromise the protective function of T-cells to external threats,” Termeer said in a statement. “Artax has the potential to treat a range of autoimmune conditions in which current therapies are not optimal and may result in serious side effects.”
[PHOTO: Wellcome Images]
