Holoclara secures Series A funding for worm-based treatments

Biotechnology company Holoclara has successfully secured $16 million in a Series A financing round to advance its innovative worm-derived therapies aimed at treating allergic and autoimmune diseases. The funding round was led by BOLD Capital Partners, with additional investments from Tarrasque, Horizons Ventures, Endurance28, Freeflow Ventures, and a group of angel investors.

As part of this financial boost, Peter Barton Hutt, former chief counsel for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and senior counsel at Covington & Burling, has joined the board of directors at Holoclara. This new capital will be crucial in advancing the company's orally available therapeutics into clinical trials, which are anticipated to begin by the end of 2024.

Holoclara is also focusing on expanding its discovery engine, a platform dedicated to isolating specific molecules from worms that show therapeutic potential. This platform builds upon the research of CEO and co-founder Dr. Andrea Choe. Dr. Choe identified a unique pheromone language among roundworms, which is believed to have evolved over hundreds of millions of years. Her groundbreaking research led to the discovery of worm-derived molecules that have shown efficacy in inhibiting disease formation in animal models of allergic and autoimmune diseases.

These discoveries form the foundation of Holoclara’s technology, which uses synthetic chemistry to replicate these therapeutic molecules. This approach paves the way for the creation of safe, orally-administered medications that hold the promise of not only managing but potentially curing a range of prevalent diseases.

Dr. Choe explained the motivation behind Holoclara, stating: "Holoclara was born out of an unmet clinical need. During my physician training, I met countless patients with life-altering allergies and autoimmune disorders that were often undiagnosed and untreated. Medicine lacked the tools to address these debilitating diseases — despite compelling evidence [that] I and other worm scientists unearthed pointing to worms as a promising, if unexpected, therapeutic approach. With our world-class team and leading investors, we are taking matters into our own hands to usher in a new era of medicines inspired by nature that can transform the lives of millions of people.”

Holoclara’s approach represents a novel direction in biotechnology, leveraging the therapeutic potentials of molecules derived from worms. By focusing on creating new treatments that are orally administered, the company aims to provide more accessible and life-changing options for patients suffering from allergies and autoimmune diseases. The substantial investment and the addition of an experienced board member like Peter Barton Hutt indicate strong confidence in Holoclara's innovative approach and its potential to make significant strides in medical science.