Akarna Therapeutics Raises $15 Million Series B Financing to Develop Novel FXR Agonist-Based Therapies for
the Treatment of NASH and other Fibrotic Diseases
Funding to advance Akarna’s lead drug candidate through human proof-of-concept studies
Akarna Therapeutics Ltd., a privately held biopharmaceutical company, today announced the closing of a $15 million Series B
preferred stock financing. New investor Forbion Capital Partners joined existing investors New Science Ventures and Third Point
Ventures to complete the round.
Akarna will use the funds to accelerate the development of its lead FXR agonist drug candidate through human proof-of-concept
studies in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a progressive form of fatty-liver disease for which there are no
approved therapies.
“Patients suffering from this debilitating disease desperately need therapies that are effective and well-tolerated,” stated Dr.
Raju Mohan, Chief Executive Officer of Akarna. “We believe our lead drug candidate has the potential to treat NASH while avoiding
some of the serious side effects associated with other therapies in development. We greatly appreciate the support of our investors
who share this vision.”
“Akarna’s team has an impressive track record of developing novel compounds targeting diseases with significant unmet medical
need,” stated Marco Boorsma, Partner at Forbion Capital Partners. “We are excited to participate in this financing and to support
Akarna’s efforts to develop a best-in-class therapy for NASH.”
“We are delighted to have Forbion join us in the current round,” added Somu Subramaniam, Managing Partner at New Science
Ventures. “The Akarna team has made tremendous progress in 2015 and we look forward to continuing the momentum as we move rapidly
towards human clinical trials.”
About NASH
NASH is a progressive form of fatty-liver disease that has been directly associated with diabetes and obesity. Excessive
accumulation of fat in the liver induces chronic inflammation, which causes progressive fibrosis, cirrhosis and eventually
end-stage liver disease. The prevalence of NASH is increasing worldwide as diabetes and obesity reach epidemic proportions yet
there are currently no approved therapies. It is estimated that as many as 5% of the US population has NASH with about eight
million patients worldwide with advanced disease. NASH is projected to become the leading indication for liver transplant by
2020.
About FXR
FXR is a nuclear hormone receptor expressed in the liver, intestine, kidney and fat. FXR has been a target of great interest to
biotech and pharmaceutical companies over the past decade because of its role as a master regulator of carbohydrate and lipid
metabolism, bile-acid homeostasis, inflammation and fibrosis, all of which are associated with the pathology and progression of
NASH. FXR is recognized as a clinically validated target for NASH and other liver diseases, such as primary biliary cirrhosis
(PBC).
About Forbion Capital Partners
Forbion Capital Partners is a dedicated life sciences venture capital firm with offices in The Netherlands, Germany and the
United States. Forbion invests in life sciences companies in the pharmaceutical, as well as the medical device space. Forbion’s
investment team has built an impressive performance track record since the late nineties with successful investments in multiple
companies. Forbion manages €700M across six funds, including the new fund FCF III. For further information please visit us at
www.forbion.com.
About New Science Ventures
New Science Ventures, LLC (NSV) is a New York-based venture capital firm that invests in companies using novel scientific
approaches in the life sciences sector (biotech, pharma and medical devices) and the information technology sector (semiconductors,
photonics and advanced materials). NSV was founded in 2004 by Somu Subramaniam, Managing Partner, and Tom Lavin, Partner, and has
invested approximately $450 million in both early and late stage companies located in the United States, Europe and India. For more
information please visit us at www.newscienceventures.com.
About Third Point Ventures
Third Point Ventures is the emerging technology investment arm of Third Point LLC. Third Point LLC is an SEC-registered
investment adviser based in New York City. The firm was founded in 1995 by Daniel S. Loeb, who serves as its CEO and oversees all
investment activity. Third Point employs an event-driven, value-oriented investment style. Third Point’s team includes
professionals focused on investment activity, risk management and trading. This team is supported by highly experienced accounting,
operations, investor relations and marketing, and legal and compliance professionals. For more information, please visit us at
www.thirdpointventures.com.
About Akarna Therapeutics
Akarna Therapeutics is a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing novel small molecule therapeutics that target
inflammatory and fibrotic diseases for which there is no approved treatment. Akarna’s lead program is a potential best-in-class FXR
agonist for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Akarna’s lead candidate is currently in preclinical,
IND-enabling toxicology and safety pharmacology studies. Akarna is a UK-registered company with offices in Cambridge, UK and San
Diego, USA. For more information, please visit us at www.akarna.com.
Akarna Therapeutics Contact:
Raju Mohan, PhD
+1 858-945-6156
rmohan@akarna.com
or
Media Contact:
Sam Brown Inc.
Mike Beyer, +1 312-961-2502
mikebeyer@sambrown.com
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