Retension Pharmaceuticals Secures $10.4M Series A for Hypertension Clinical Trials

FALLS CHURCH, Va.--Retension Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has successfully closed its Series A financing round, raising $10.4 million. This funding will be used to launch a well-powered and controlled Phase 2 clinical study targeting patients with hypertension that remains uncontrolled despite being on two or more antihypertensive medications.

Retension Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage company dedicated to developing innovative treatments for hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. The company’s leading drug candidate, RTN-001, is a second-generation PDE5 inhibitor created to specifically target the higher vasculature tissues. This was an effort led by Dr. Paul Sweetnam, the company's Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder, to overcome the limitations associated with first-generation PDE5 inhibitors in treating hypertension.

Hypertension, which affects an estimated 1.28 billion adults globally, remains a prevalent issue, with only 21% of these patients having their condition fully under control according to the World Health Organization (WHO). RTN-001 has been studied in over 265 human subjects across various clinical trials, including two Phase 2 trials targeting patients with uncontrolled hypertension. These studies indicated that RTN-001 was well tolerated and exhibited significant blood pressure-lowering effects.

Eric Keller, CEO and Co-Founder of Retension Pharmaceuticals, emphasized the strong clinical data set and the established mechanism of action for RTN-001. He noted that with the FDA's guidance document for developing new antihypertension agents, Retension Pharmaceuticals is well-positioned for the rapid and efficient development of RTN-001. He expressed gratitude for the support received from Collage Venture Partners and new investors, many of whom have a deep understanding of hypertension and the need for new, effective treatments.

Dr. Jonathan Stamler, a distinguished professor and cardiovascular innovator, highlighted the importance of nitric oxide production in managing hypertension. He praised Retension Pharmaceuticals' efforts in advancing RTN-001, which employs PDE5 inhibition to enhance nitric oxide-based signaling, offering a promising new treatment for patients with uncontrolled and resistant hypertension.

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bill Sasiela, who joined the program recently, reviewed the prior clinical study data and was impressed by the efficacy results in patients already on multiple antihypertensive medications. He pointed out that RTN-001's established mechanism, safety, and ability to reduce blood pressure significantly makes it a promising experimental therapeutic agent that could potentially revolutionize treatment for hypertension.

The funds from the recent financing round will be allocated to conducting an efficacy study for RTN-001, as well as supporting the company's ongoing development efforts.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, significantly increases the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the U.S. In 2023, hypertension was a primary or contributing cause in over 680,000 deaths in the U.S. From 2003 to 2014, hypertension and its related health issues imposed an economic burden of approximately $131 billion annually.

Retension Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, is focused on developing RTN-001 as a therapy for patients with hypertension. Unlike earlier PDE5 inhibitors primarily used for erectile dysfunction, RTN-001 preferentially targets cardiovascular tissues. As a potent and selective modulator of cGMP, it has shown promise in multiple clinical trials, demonstrating significant efficacy in lowering blood pressure in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. The company plans to further evaluate RTN-001 in an expanded Phase 2 program, particularly focusing on resistant and uncontrolled hypertension, under an exclusive worldwide license from Sanofi S.A.