Cardurion secures $260M to boost heart drug development

Biotechnology startup Cardurion Pharmaceuticals has successfully secured $260 million in a Series B funding round to bolster its heart disease drug portfolio. This significant financial boost will enable Cardurion to advance two of its medicines into mid- and late-stage clinical trials, as well as explore new treatment indications and potentially acquire additional assets aimed at combating cardiovascular diseases. This funding round comes on the heels of Cardurion's recently disclosed data from a Phase 2 heart failure trial.

The financing was led by Ascenta Capital and saw participation from NEA, GV, Bain Capital Life Sciences, and several other investors. Bain Capital Life Sciences has previously invested heavily in Cardurion, contributing up to $300 million in 2021.

In recent years, startups focusing on heart and metabolic diseases have attracted increased investor interest, partly driven by the success of obesity medications and lucrative deals in cardiovascular research. For instance, Bristol Myers Squibb invested $13 billion in 2020 to acquire MyoKardia and its genetic heart condition drug, while Novartis spent $10 billion a year earlier on a cholesterol drug from The Medicines Co. Additionally, drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound have shown efficacy not only in weight loss but also in protecting heart health, further stimulating interest in cardiovascular research.

Cardurion, launched in 2017 through a partnership with Takeda, has been leveraging its substantial funds to expand its portfolio of heart failure and cardiac muscle dysfunction treatments. The company has also been active in securing deals to grow its pipeline, including the acquisition of a drug from the now-defunct biotech company Imara in 2022.

In the realm of heart failure, Cardurion aims to surpass standard care options. Currently, about half of heart failure patients succumb to the condition within five years of diagnosis. While Novartis’s blockbuster drug Entresto has reduced the risk of death or complications, there is still significant room for improvement. Cardurion's drugs, CRD-740 and CRD-750, target an enzyme called PDE9, which has also been studied in conditions like Alzheimer’s and sickle cell disease. In the context of heart failure, PDE9 is significant for regulating a molecule involved in heart muscle relaxation, potentially improving the heart's blood-pumping capability.

Data from a Phase 2 trial, presented in May, indicated that CRD-740 successfully elevated levels of the molecule known as cGMP after four weeks of treatment, achieving the study's primary objective. The company is also testing CRD-750 in two Phase 2 studies involving heart failure patients. In addition to these trials, the new funding will support the advancement of another experimental drug targeting a protein linked to hyperactive muscle tissue. This drug will initially be tested in individuals with a rare condition known as catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.

Cardurion Pharmaceuticals is making significant strides in the field of cardiovascular medicine, leveraging substantial financial backing to push the boundaries of existing heart failure treatments and explore new therapeutic possibilities.