Dano Medical Announces Over RMB 300 Million Series E Financing to Advance Late-Stage Clinical Development and Commercialization of Core Novel Anti-Infective Drug Candidates

October 16,TenNor Therapeutics Announces First Closing of Over RMB 300 Million in Series E FinancingThis round of financing was co-led by Zhongshan Venture Capital, under Zhongshan Investment Holdings, and the AMR Action Fund (AMR Fund). The proceeds will be used to support the company’s core novel drug development pipeline, including late-stage clinical trials and commercialization of TNP-2198, a new drug candidate for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection, and TNP-2092, a new drug candidate for the treatment of infections associated with implanted medical devices.

“We are delighted to have secured support from Zhongshan Venture Capital and the AMR Fund,”Dr. Ma Zhenkun, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of TenNor Therapeuticsstated. “TenNor Therapeutics is committed to addressing the dual challenges of bacterial resistance and tolerance, providing solutions for bacterial infections and microbiota metabolism-related diseases that currently lack adequate treatment options. This round of financing will support TenNor Therapeutics in accelerating the commercialization of TNP-2198, a novel drug candidate for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection, as well as advancing late-stage clinical trials of TNP-2092, a novel drug candidate for the treatment of infections associated with implanted medical devices.”

“TenNor Therapeutics focuses on the research and development of novel drugs for bacterial infections and microbiota metabolism-related diseases. Its first-in-class drug candidate TNP-2198, designed to treat Helicobacter pylori infection, has completed Phase III clinical trials, and several other investigational new drug candidates have also entered late-stage clinical trials.”Zhang Cheng, Chairman of Zhongshan Venture Capital Co., Ltd.“TenNor Therapeutics adopts a differentiated product development strategy to address unmet needs in both domestic and international markets, offering broad market prospects. We are delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with AMR Fund, a leading global investment institution in the anti-infective field, to jointly participate in this round of financing.”

“The current global situation regarding infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria is alarming and worsening. The latest data published in The Lancet indicate that nearly 40 million people worldwide will die from infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria by 2050.”Dr. Henry Skinner, CEO of the AMR Fund“We are delighted to provide financial support to TenNor Therapeutics. The TenNor team is rapidly advancing the development of novel antibacterial drugs, which hold the promise of saving countless lives worldwide and alleviating the suffering caused by drug-resistant bacterial infections.”

TenNor Therapeutics focuses on bacterial infections and diseases related to microbiota metabolism, targeting indications that currently lack adequate treatment options yet hold significant market potential. The company has already advanced multiple drug candidates into late-stage clinical trials. TenNor Therapeutics adopts a first-line therapy strategy for new drug development to ensure commercial success.

TNP-2198 (rifotinizole) is a novel drug candidate with a unique multi-target synergistic mechanism of action against microaerophilic and anaerobic bacteria. It has the potential to become the first new drug developed globally in over 30 years specifically for Helicobacter pylori infection, addressing the need for H. pylori screening-and-eradication programs and gastric cancer prevention strategies in regions with high gastric cancer incidence. TenNor Therapeutics has completed five Phase I and II clinical trials of TNP-2198 in China, and its Phase III clinical trial is currently nearing completion. TenNor Therapeutics has obtained Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) designation and Fast Track designation from the U.S. FDA for TNP-2198.

TNP-2092 (rifabutin derivative) is a novel drug candidate with a unique triple-target synergistic mechanism of action, designed to address the dual challenges of antibiotic resistance and tolerance in infections associated with implanted medical devices. TenNor Therapeutics has completed six Phase I and II clinical trials of TNP-2092 injection in China and the United States and is preparing to launch an international, multicenter Phase III clinical trial for the treatment of prosthetic joint infections. TenNor Therapeutics has received Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP), Fast Track, and Orphan Drug designations from the U.S. FDA for TNP-2092.

TenNor Therapeutics is a clinical needs-driven company focused on the fields of bacterial infections and metabolism-related diseases, dedicated to developing differentiated novel drug products. The company possesses a unique multi-target conjugate molecule drug discovery platform and a pipeline of novel drug products protected by global intellectual property rights. Currently, multiple products have entered late-stage clinical trials, with target indications including Helicobacter pylori infection, implantable medical device-associated infections, hepatic encephalopathy in liver cirrhosis, and diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D), among other common and serious conditions. TenNor Therapeutics is committed to addressing unmet clinical needs in these areas and providing safe and effective novel therapeutics to patients in China and worldwide.

Zhongshan Venture Capital Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Zhongshan VC”) was established through the integration of the fund management and equity investment operations previously held by Zhongshan Financial Holdings Asset Management Co., Ltd. and Zhongshan Investment Holdings Group, in implementation of the Zhongshan Municipal Committee and Municipal Government’s directive to “cultivate and develop flagship enterprises in equity investment.” It is a private fund manager registered and filed with the Asset Management Association of China (AMAC Registration No.: P1065108).Since its establishment, Zhongshan VC has shouldered the mission of strengthening, optimizing, and expanding the core investment business of Zhongshan Investment Holdings Group. Focusing on strategic emerging industries encouraged by Zhongshan City—including new energy, next-generation information technology, intelligent equipment and advanced manufacturing, and biopharmaceuticals—the company advances the formation of large-scale funds, major project investments, and the construction of significant platforms. It engages in businesses such as entrusted management of government-guided funds and direct equity investments, contributing state-owned venture capital strength to the high-quality economic development of Zhongshan City, with the goal of initially building a first-rate state-owned capital investment company in the Greater Bay Area.In 2024, the Zhongshan High-Quality Development Fund of Funds, managed by Zhongshan VC, was selected for the “Top 30 Prefecture-Level Government-Guided Funds in China 2024.” Additionally, Zhongshan VC was included in the Mid-Year List of the Golden Investment Awards within the Annual Rankings of China’s Venture Capital Industry, recognized as one of the “Top 30 Growth-Oriented Investment Institutions in China 2024.”

The AMR Action Fund is the world’s largest investment vehicle in the field of anti-infectives, with a plan to invest $1 billion to support clinical-stage biotechnology companies and help bring new antimicrobial drugs to market. The AMR Action Fund was jointly launched by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) and its member biopharmaceutical companies, together with the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Investment Bank, and the Wellcome Trust. Contributing organizations include Amgen, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eisai, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co., Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Roche, Shionogi, Takeda, and the European Investment Bank, among others.