Closely-held AmorChem has spun out Mperia Therapeutics, a start-up company focusing on a novel immunotherapy approach based on CD36 cell receptor drug-ligands.
All rights to the CD36 technology initially held by AmorChem have been transferred to Mperia, with a first Series A investment of $1-million. The capital injection will allow Mperia to pursue early-stage development of lead candidates for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in seniors.
Promising CD36 drug-ligands have been tested in several dry AMD animal models and demonstrated significant efficacy to preserve and restore cell layers at both the retinal and sub-retinal levels. Dry AMD remains an unmet medical need, with no approved treatments.
In a statement, Dr. Elizabeth Douville, managing partner at AmorChem, said the close relationship between the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and dry AMD “now make consensus, and our most recent in-vivo data confirm the tremendous therapeutic potential of the CD36 drug-ligands in both indications.”
By spinning off of the technology into Mperia and a first seed financing, “we believe the company is poised to raise more capital and bring the first CD36 drug-ligand to the clinic in the near future,” she added.
