Spiral Therapeutics Secures $5.6M Series A Funding to Advance LPT99 for Chemotherapy-Induced Inner Ear Disorders

VCBeat (WeChat Official Account: vcbeat) learned from foreign media that on May 6 (U.S. local time), biopharmaceutical company Spiral Therapeutics completed a $5.6 million Series A financing round. The proceeds will be used to advance the development of inner ear therapeutics, aiming to help patients with hearing disorders restore their hearing.

It is reported that this round of financing was led by Camden Partners, with Inveready Technology Investment Group participating as a co-investor.

Spiral Therapeutics, founded in 2016 and headquartered in California, USA, focuses on the development of clinical therapeutics to address unmet needs in the hearing loss market.

Hearing loss is a common condition, yet effective pharmacological treatments remain scarce. While this disorder was historically prevalent among the elderly, the proliferation of wearable electronic audio devices, such as in-ear headphones, has led to a rising incidence of hearing impairment among younger populations. This trend warrants serious attention.

Many people believe that hearing impairment results only from prolonged exposure of the eardrum to sound waves, and that this can be avoided through scientifically sound ear-use practices and appropriate rest. However, a study by Spiral Therapeutics has found that the primary cause of hearing loss is the disruption of sound conduction pathways due to pathological changes in inner ear tissues. This inner ear dysfunction is triggered by two factors: chemotherapy and noise exposure. Therefore, patients with ear diseases cannot recover solely through physical adjustments (i.e., limiting ear usage time) and must rely on pharmacological treatment.

The drug currently under development by the company is LPT 99, an otoprotective agent. It prevents inner ear pathology and repairs damaged tissue cells. Furthermore, the company has developed a novel formulation of LPT 99 specifically for chemotherapy-induced inner ear disorders. This agent treats ear conditions without compromising the activity or efficacy of antineoplastic drugs in patients, thereby ensuring that tumor growth remains controlled during otologic treatment.

Notably, in patients with hearing impairment, only the inner ear requires treatment, while other ear tissues function normally; the drug should not adversely affect these healthy tissues. Currently, the company is accelerating the development of new drugs to minimize the impact of LPT 99 on other normal ear tissues.

Hugo Peris, Founder and CEO of Spiral Therapeutics, stated, “We are delighted to have the support of new investors. The company is in a growth phase, and the proceeds from this new round of financing will enable us to continue expanding our business and developing novel therapeutics, helping patients with ear diseases recover their health as quickly as possible.”

Sara Secall, Investment Director at Inveready Technology Investment Group, stated, “We are highly optimistic about the growth prospects of Spiral Therapeutics. The widespread adoption of electronic devices has not only brought convenience but also triggered a rise in ear-related disorders—an unavoidable trend. We look forward to collaborating with Spiral Therapeutics to accelerate the launch of novel therapeutics.”

Camden Partners, founded in 1995 and headquartered in Maryland, USA, is a private equity firm focused on investing in the early and late-stage development of healthcare startups. It has completed 41 investments to date.

Inveready Technology Investment Group is a venture capital firm established in 2008, headquartered in Catalonia, Spain. It focuses on investing in the early-stage development of technology startups and has completed 100 investments to date. In addition to providing financial support, the firm assists entrepreneurs in expanding their business operations and implementing scientific management practices.

(Compiled by Liu Yujing)