January 28,Boston, Atalanta Therapeutics, a pioneering biotechnology company in RNA interference (RNAi) treatments for neurological disorders, announced the completion of a $97 million Series B financing to support the company’s Phase 1 clinical trials of RNAi therapies for KCNT1-related epilepsy and Huntington's disease. The financing was co-led by EQT Life Sciences and Sanofi Ventures, with additional new investors RiverVest Venture Partners, Novartis Venture Fund, funds managed by abrdn Inc, Pictet Alternative Advisors, Mirae Asset Financial Group, and GHR Foundation, along with existing investor F-Prime Capital participating.
Series B Financing EnablesAtalantaTotal capital generated through financing and partnerships to date reaches $262 million.Atalanta Therapeutics inStood out in 2021 with a $110 million Series A financing round and partnerships with Biogen and Genentech.Although withGenentechThe cooperative relationship remains unchanged, but the Biogen deal is no longer active.AtalantaRegained full rights to two preclinical programs in the collaboration.At the same time as this financing round, the company announced the appointment ofManaging Director of EQT Life SciencesDr. Arno de Wilde;Managing Director of Sanofi VenturesDr. Jason Hafler;Dr. Niall O'Donnell, Managing Director of RiverVest Venture Partners, joins the board.
A unique divalent small interfering RNA (di-siRNA) platform enables durable, selective gene silencing throughout the brain and spinal cord. As part of a strategic collaboration with Genentech,AtalantaAdvancing a series of wholly-owned disease-modifying programs targeting Huntington's disease, hereditary epilepsy, severe chronic pain, and other neurological disorders, as well as collaborative projects.
Alicia Secor, President and CEO of Atalanta Therapeutics, Inc., said:"This financing confirmsAtalantaThe truly transformative potential of a first-class di-siRNA platform in delivering oligonucleotide therapies to the central nervous system, along with the exciting prospects of our extensive wholly-owned pipeline. Importantly, the funding will pave the way for clinical development of two programs targeting severe neurological disorders that currently lack disease-modifying treatments — KCNT1-related epilepsy and Huntington's disease — and will strengthen our growing franchise of investigational drugs for Huntington's disease. We are working diligently to advance these programs to IND submission within the next year, allowing us to initiate Phase 1 clinical trials and reach patients who are eagerly awaiting new options.
ATL-201 is Atalanta Therapeutics' investigational treatment for KCNT1-related epilepsy, a form of early-onset epilepsy and encephalopathy driven by gain-of-function variants in the KCNT1 gene. Infants and children with KCNT1-related epilepsy experience severe, frequent seizures that cannot be controlled with anti-seizure medications, and they often exhibit developmental delays and intellectual disabilities. ATL-201 aims to reduce KCNT1 levels and normalize neuronal excitability. Preclinical studies have shown that ATL-201 significantly reduces seizures, improves behavior, with impressive persistence and tolerability.The second development candidate pipeline, ATL-101, is a di-siRNA designed to silence the HTT gene for the treatment of Huntington's disease. Huntington's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the expansion of the HTT gene, leading to the deterioration of a person’s physical, cognitive, and psychiatric capabilities. Preclinical studies have shown that a single dose of ATL-101 significantly reduces HTT expression, including in deep brain regions, with six months of durability and excellent tolerability.Dr. Arno de Wilde, Managing Director of EQT Life Sciences, said:"Atalanta's di-siRNA technology shows promising capabilities in durably silencing disease-promoting genes in previously inaccessible regions of the brain and spinal cord, opening up a wide range of therapeutic possibilities for devastating neurological disorders. EQT Life Sciences is proud to be part of such a high-quality consortium of investors, co-leading the investment in Atalanta Therapeutics."AtalantaFuture investments, we look forward to collaborating withAtalanta"leadership collaboration to support their continued success."Follow the official account below to see the world!
