Cardurion secures $260m in Series B for cardiovascular development

US-based biotechnology firm Cardurion Pharmaceuticals has successfully secured $260 million in Series B funding aimed at advancing its drug development pipeline, particularly for cardiovascular treatments. This round of financing will chiefly support the late-stage clinical trials of two of the company’s leading drug candidates: CRD-750 and CRD-4730.

CRD-750 is a phosphodiesterase 9 (PDE9) inhibitor designed for the treatment of heart failure. It is currently undergoing two Phase II clinical trials (NCT06215586 and NCT06215911) to address heart failure with both preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). These trials are placebo-controlled and are actively recruiting participants at multiple sites in the United States and Canada.

CRD-4730, on the other hand, is a calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) inhibitor aimed at managing catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, a rare genetic arrhythmic disease. This drug is also in the midst of a Phase II clinical trial (NCT06005428).

The newly acquired funds will not only propel these two candidates through their critical late-stage trials but will also be used to broaden the scope of indications for both CRD-750 and CRD-4730. Additionally, Cardurion plans to acquire new assets aimed at treating various cardiovascular disorders.

The Series B funding round saw participation from prominent investors including Bain Capital and Ascenta Capital, along with other US-based investment entities.

Earlier in the year, Cardurion reported encouraging data for another PDE9 inhibitor, CRD-740, in patients with heart failure. The CARDINAL-HF Phase IIa trial (NCT05409183) achieved its primary endpoint by showing a significant increase in plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels in patients with HFrEF.

The heightened interest in cardiovascular drug development is evident across the biotechnology landscape. In February, Novo Nordisk entered into an agreement potentially worth up to $1.46 billion to license molecular glue degraders from Neomorph. This agreement focuses on the treatment of cardiometabolic disorders and rare diseases, with Neomorph handling discovery and preclinical research, while Novo Nordisk will lead further clinical development and commercialization efforts.

Another promising area in cardiovascular treatment is the development of drugs targeting the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor. Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 therapy, Wegovy (semaglutide), demonstrated a 20% reduction in cardiovascular events among obese and overweight patients when compared to a placebo, according to data released last year.

Cardurion’s strategic initiatives and the influx of new capital place the company in a strong position to make significant advancements in cardiovascular medicine. With promising drug candidates in the pipeline and backing from reputable investors, Cardurion is poised to contribute substantially to the evolving landscape of cardiovascular treatments.