Therini Bio Secures $39M to Advance Neurodegenerative Disease Pipeline

Therini Bio, Inc., a clinical-stage biotech company based in Sacramento, California, has successfully secured an additional $39 million in Series A extension financing. This influx of capital raises the total for their Series A funding to an impressive $75 million. The latest round of funding saw participation from new investors, Angelini Ventures and Apollo Health Ventures, alongside existing investors such as SV Health Investors’ Biotech Fund and Dementia Discovery Fund, among others.

The funds are earmarked for advancing Phase 1b clinical trials of Therini Bio’s leading drug candidate, THN391, which targets Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME). Additionally, resources will be directed towards developing a fibrin/VEGF bispecific, reflecting the company’s commitment to combating neurodegenerative diseases rooted in vascular dysfunction.

Therini Bio’s strategy centers on addressing the root causes of neurodegeneration. Factors like aging, genetic predispositions, and diseases such as hypertension and diabetes contribute to vascular dysfunction, leading to the accumulation of toxic fibrin deposits outside blood vessels. These deposits trigger chronic neuroinflammation, resulting in neuronal damage and severe neurodegenerative conditions. Therini Bio is pioneering a unique approach by targeting the inflammatory epitope on fibrin to mitigate the negative impacts of neuroinflammation.

THN391 is a novel humanized monoclonal antibody designed to selectively inhibit fibrin-mediated neuroinflammation without interfering with coagulation processes. Preclinical studies have shown its efficacy in preventing vascular and neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer's and retinal diseases. In a Phase 1a clinical trial, THN391 demonstrated favorable tolerance in healthy subjects, with no adverse hematological effects or impact on coagulation, and no anti-drug antibody response. The pharmacokinetics of THN391 support monthly dosing, making it a promising candidate for ongoing Phase 1b trials in AD and DME.

Tara Nickerson, Ph.D., CEO of Therini Bio, expressed her gratitude towards the investors, highlighting their shared vision of introducing innovative treatment approaches for debilitating conditions like Alzheimer's and DME. Nickerson, an industry veteran with a substantial track record in biotech financing, emphasized the potential of the Phase 1b trials to showcase the benefits of this novel therapeutic mechanism in patients.

Thomas Thestrup, Senior Principal at Angelini Ventures, articulated his pride in supporting Therini Bio’s mission to tackle vascular and inflammatory drivers of neurodegenerative diseases. Thestrup underscored the groundbreaking nature of Therini’s selective antibody therapy targeting fibrin-induced inflammation, offering a transformative pathway for treating conditions such as Alzheimer’s and DME.

Therini Bio stands as a beacon in the biotech field, focusing on immunotherapies for neuroinflammation attributed to vascular dysfunction. The company's pipeline includes potential first-in-class therapies targeting toxic fibrin accumulation, pivotal in the disease processes of Alzheimer’s and DME. The investor consortium backing Therini Bio comprises esteemed entities like the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, Angelini Ventures, Apollo Health Ventures, and others dedicated to advancing therapeutic innovations in life sciences.