Vertex Ventures Places Hope in Epirium Bio
Posted on 01/02/2020
Epirium Bio, Inc. is formerly known as Cardero Therapeutics, Inc. Epirium Bio is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics that optimize both tissue bioenergetics and structure through a novel mechanism of action discovered by the company. Epirium Bio intends to advance its first clinical candidate in 2020, initially in Becker Muscular Dystrophy, followed by drug development targeting other progressive neuromuscular disorders associated with mitochondrial depletion. Epirium Bio has identified and established an IP-protected platform of small molecules that constitute a new class of therapeutics with the potential to stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis and tissue regeneration.
On December 18, 2019, Epirium Bio revealed its raised US$ 85 million in a Series A round from investors such as Longitude Capital, ARCH Venture Partners, Bluebird Ventures, Adams Street Partners, Vertex Ventures HC, and The Longevity Fund. Vertex Ventures, the venture management company, is owned by Singapore’s Temasek Holdings.
Epirium Bio is headed up by Russell Cox as CEO. Cox is the former CEO of Vital Therapies, Inc. and COO of Jazz Pharmaceuticals. In January 2019, Vital Therapies acquired Immunic AG in exchange for newly-issued shares of Vital Therapies in an all-stock transaction.
Palleon Pharmaceuticals
On October 4, 2017, Palleon Pharmaceuticals raised US$ 47.6 million in a Series A rund from investors such as SR One, Pfizer Ventures, Vertex Ventures HC, Takeda Ventures, and AbbVie Ventures. Palleon Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company focused on developing Glycoimmune Checkpoint inhibitors to treat cancer.
