Livionex Secures $4 Million Series A Funding to Advance Therapies for Gingivitis, Cataracts, and Herpes Simplex Virus

On May 14, 2019, VCBeat (WeChat official account: vcbeat) learned that Livionex Pharma had completed a $4 million Series A financing round at a valuation of $180 million. The funding was provided by private investors and family offices. The company plans to use the proceeds to accelerate R&D of its technology, advance treatments for periodontal disease, cataracts, and herpes simplex virus, and drive market penetration of LIVFRESH in the United States and Asia.

Since its establishment in 2009, Livionex has accepted external investment for the first time. The company aims to conduct an initial public offering (IPO) in 2021.

Livionex was founded in 2009 by alumni of Stanford and Berkeley, with its headquarters located in Los Gatos, California. Livionex develops novel therapies for various age-related chronic diseases, aiming to improve the quality of human life and extend human lifespan.

The company’s products, based on its proprietary technology, modulate metal ions that contribute to oxidative stress and disease. The company has introduced a novel therapeutic approach in ophthalmology, dermatology, and oral care for the treatment of conditions such as metallo-lipid-protein aggregates, inflammation, and bacterial biofilms.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 200 million Americans have experienced some form of gingival inflammation. Previously, oral surgery was the only viable treatment option. LIVFRESH gel, produced by Livionex, offers a new alternative for treating gingival inflammation.

The additives in LIVFRESH are included in the FDA’s GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) list and are safe for use. Clinical studies have demonstrated that LIVFRESH is 250% more effective at removing dental plaque than other toothpastes on the market. LIVFRESH is currently undergoing FDA evaluation and is the world’s first and only toothpaste oral care product of its kind.

 

Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss and are considered an inevitable manifestation of aging. According to data from the National Eye Institute, the number of people in the United States with cataracts is projected to rise from 24.4 million to approximately 50 million by 2050. Livionex is conducting a Phase 2c clinical trial specifically targeting cataracts, with its eye drops becoming the first non-invasive treatment to improve vision in patients with early-to-moderate cataracts.

Data indicate that approximately 67% of the global population, or 3.7 billion people, are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), and one-quarter of those infected experience recurrent outbreaks. Livionex’s research on HSV-1 has received funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense, and the company has developed and manufactured a transdermal lotion capable of preventing HSV-1 outbreaks.

(Compiled by Song Chenchen)