Tortugas Neuroscience launched from stealth Tuesday with $106 million to support a pipeline of four in-licensed drugs in clinical development for a range of central nervous system indications.
The programs of Framingham, Massachusetts-based Tortugas address neuroscience targets that have been validated by already approved medications. But the startup aims to differentiate with advantages such as less frequent dosing — its drugs are all intended to be once-daily pills, which would be more convenient than some neuro medications that require multiple doses per day. Beyond offering better drug properties, the company said its molecules offer the potential for expansion to other indications.
The two most advanced Tortugas drugs are from Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group. TRTL-107 is in Phase 2 development for schizophrenia. This molecule is a partial agonist of two dopamine receptors, D2 and D3. It’s also an antagonist of 5-HT2A. While those targets are currently addressed by available antipsychotics, TRTL-107 goes after them together with a single molecule.
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The other drug from Hansoh is TRTL-913, a positive allosteric modulator of the GABAA receptor. Drugs from this class of medicines are used to treat conditions such as seizures, anxiety, and muscle spasms. Tortugas is developing TRTL-913 for tinnitus, a buzzing or hissing in the ears that’s not caused by external sound. There are no FDA-approved drugs for tinnitus, though clinicians sometimes prescribe medications off-label to manage it.
The other two clinical-stage Tortugas drugs are from Eisai. TRTL-729 is an uncompetitive GAT-1 inhibitor in mid-stage development for focal epilepsy; TRTL-118 is a PDE9 inhibitor in mid-stage development for reversible encephalopathies. The Tortuga pipeline also lists a fifth program in the discovery stage for a target and indication that remain undisclosed.
“We believe each of our programs are well-positioned for differentiation in the marketplace,” CEO Jeff Jonas said in a prepared statement. “Tortugas curated its pipeline for innovative therapeutics that have high potential for clinical differentiation and of reaching their target patient markets.”
Jonas and Tortugas President, Head of R&D Al Robichaud are both former executives of neuroscience drug developer Sage Therapeutics. Under a multi-drug partnership with Biogen, Sage’s Zurzuvae became the first FDA-approved oral drug for post-partum depression. But this pill failed studies in major depressive disorder, a larger indication with stronger revenue growth potential. Sage’s exploration of strategy alternatives led to its acquisition by Supernus Pharmaceuticals last year.
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The $106 million supporting Tortugas spans a seed and Series A round. Cure Ventures, where Jonas and Robichaud are partners, led the startup’s seed round. Cure Ventures is also co-leading Tortugas’s Series A round alongside The Column Group and AN Venture Partners. Tortugas said the funding will support ongoing R&D, including the completion of Phase 2 testing of the drugs in development for schizophrenia and tinnitus.
Photo by Tortugas Neuroscience