CBP-4888

Comanche Biopharma said Wednesday that it closed an oversubscribed $75-million Series B round to help propel development of an experimental siRNA therapy that tackles a root cause of preeclampsia. The company plans to use proceeds from the financing to initiate a clinical study of CBP-4888 in pregnant preeclamptic patients later this year.Currently, the main way to help a mother recover from preeclampsia is to deliver the baby prematurely, but this choice comes with a high risk of both short- and long-term complications for the baby. Vascular damage from excess sFlt1 proteinHowever, Comanche's founding researchers believe they have uncovered a driving cause of preeclampsia – dangerously high levels of sFlt1 seen in the bloodstream of women with the condition. The protein is toxic when produced in excess by the placenta, severely damaging the mother’s blood vessels and impairing the growth of new ones. Once it reaches those toxic levels, it is responsible for many of the signs and symptoms of preeclampsia.Enter CBP-4888 – a subcutaneously delivered siRNA designed to decrease the production of sFLT1 in the placenta. Comanche got the all-clear last year to move the experimental drug into the clinic for the treatment of preeclampsia. The siRNA therapy was fast-tracked by the FDA in August. Recently completed early studyAccording to the company, CBP-4888 instructs the body's own natural mechanisms to tamp down sFlt1 production at its source in the placenta, which in turn lowers toxic levels in the mother's blood. Companche says it recently completed a Phase I healthy volunteer study of CBP-4888 in women of child-bearing age."For the first time, we are able to target a root cause of this disease, potentially ameliorating its significant consequences and, in the process, take an important step toward…ensuring safer pregnancies," noted CEO Scott Johnson. Existing investors GV, F-Prime Capital, Lilly Asia Ventures and Longview Healthcare Ventures participated in the Series B round, and were joined by new contributors New Enterprise Associates (NEA), who led the fundraise, and Atlas Venture. Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, now a partner at NEA, has been appointed a member of Comanche's board.

Dive Brief:Massachusetts-based startup Comanche BioPharma has raised $75 million in new venture funding to advance an experimental treatment targeting a cause of the pregnancy-related condition preeclampsia.Preeclampsia involves sudden blood pressure spikes that can lead to serious complications for both the mother and fetus. Comanches RNA-based drug is designed to mute overproduction of a protein Comanches founding researchers have linked to preeclampsia.With the new funds, Comanche plans to advance the drug, dubbed CBP-4888, through a comprehensive series of trials, including a study of pregnant preeclamptic patients later this year. The company previously completed a Phase 1 study in healthy women of child-bearing age.Dive Insight:Preeclampsia tends to affect expecting mothers in the second half of pregnancy and is more likely to occur alongside underlying conditions such as chronic high blood pressure or obesity, among others. It can lead to severe complications such as stroke, preterm birth or stillbirth.However, its direct cause has been hard to pin down. Comanche is founded around research that points to one potential trigger.Along with high blood pressure, one sign of preeclampsia is increased protein in urine. Comanches founders identified a protein, called sFlt1, thats elevated in the blood of women with preeclampsia. High levels of sFlt1 in the placenta is toxic to the mother and leads to blood vessel damage.Last year, the FDA approved a blood test that can detect this protein for diagnosing preeclampsia before symptoms get severe. Comanche said this diagnostic will be vital to the design of its clinical trials testing CBP-4888.The drug is whats known as a small interfering RNA, a type of drugmaking technology pioneered by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, which has developed five approved siRNA drugs. (Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, now owned by Novo Nordisk, has developed a sixth.)In the case of CBP-4888, the drug is meant to reduce the production of sFlt1 in the placenta.For the first time, we are able to target a root cause of this disease, potentially ameliorating its significant consequences and, in the process, take an important step toward improving the maternal health crisis, ensuring safer pregnancies, and delivering benefits that resonate across multiple facets of society globally, said Comanche CEO Scott Johnson in a statement.Along with the financing, Comanche announced it has appointed former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb to its board of directors. Gottlieb is currently a partner at New Enterprise Associates and a member of Pfizers board of directors.The Series B was led by NEA, which was joined by new investor Atlas Venture as well existing backers GV, F-Prime Capital, Lilly Asia Ventures and Longview Healthcare Ventures. '