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Nekonal and TVM Capital Life Science Announce Creation of T7 Therapeutics to Develop Innovative Therapy for Patients with Auto-immune diseases
November 15, 2021
Luxembourg, November 15th, 2021 – TVM Life Science Innovation II SCSp announced the Fund’s investment establishing T7 Therapeutics, Inc., a company based in Wilmington, Delaware, USA.
T7 Therapeutics plans to develop, a first-in-class monoclonal antibody targeting a broad set of autoimmune diseases to clinical proof-of-concept. This antibody targets a new critical pathway in autoimmunity, initially discovered by Nalân Utku during her training at the laboratories in Renal Division of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Humanized antibodies subsequently were developed at Nekonal S.a.r.l.
Nalân Utku, MD Ph.D. MDRA, CEO of Nekonal and Member of the Board of T7 Therapeutics, commented: “We are very excited to team up with TVM Capital Life Science and its partner Eli Lilly and Company to advance the chosen asset into human clinical trials. There are no approved treatments that specifically target this underlying mechanism of disease which we hope to address with our novel approach.”
Caroline Fortier, Ph.D., CEO of T7 Therapeutics said: “The management team of T7 Therapeutics is excited to have the opportunity to further develop, to clinical proof-of-concept, this promising asset with the potential to treat chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. These diseases remain a significant unmet clinical need that needs to be addressed.”
Sascha Berger, Ph.D., General Partner of TVM Capital Life Science, added: “TVM Capital Life Science is proud to have enabled the creation of T7 Therapeutics and to have secured the rights to a novel first-in-class asset that can positively impact challenging indication targets. This investment is a testament to our transatlantic network and our single asset focus for innovative preclinical therapeutic agents.”
Marc Riviere, MD, CMO of TVM Capital Life Science and Member of the Board of T7 Therapeutics, commented: “This is the sixth early-stage investment for TVM Life Science Innovation II, and we are pleased to collaborate with the well-proven management team of Caroline Fortier and Mark Cipriano, who will act as CEO and CFO respectively for T7 Therapeutics.”
T7 Therapeutics plans to develop the first in class antibody to a proof-of-concept study in psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis is a form of arthritis that affects some people who have psoriasis — a disease that causes red patches of skin. Most people develop psoriasis years before being diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. There is no cure for this disease. Treatment is aimed at controlling symptoms and preventing joint damage. Without treatment, psoriatic arthritis can be extremely painful and debilitating.
There are more than 80 different chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, and the global autoimmune disease therapeutics market is projected to reach a value of more than 150 USD billion in 2025. T7 Therapeutics will seek clinical validation in psoriatic arthritis but may subsequently expand into various other indications.
TVM Capital Life Science and T7 Therapeutics have the option to engage with Chorus, a full-service autonomous research and development unit within Lilly, to execute an efficient and cost-effective clinical plan.
About Nekonal
Nekonal is a company dedicated to promoting the development of innovative therapies for the treatment and prevention of diseases with a high unmet medical need.
Nekonal S.a.r.l.
27-29, rue Henri Koch
LU-4354 Esch/Alzette
Luxembourg
About TVM Capital Life Science
TVM Capital Life Science provides venture capital to the international pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and medical technology industries with more than 30-years of transatlantic investment track record and over 1.4 USD billion raised and under management. With its investment teams located in North America and Europe, TVM Capital Life Science provides investors and entrepreneurs and innovation-seeking biopharmaceutical companies access to global life science innovation and provides paths for successful tech transfer and commercialization for the benefit of patients and investors alike.
The TVM Capital Life Science team looks back on more than 130 investments and over 90 exits, including more than 45 initial public offerings on all major U.S. and European stock exchanges. It has gained unrivaled international investment experience with its track record of dedicated board work, extensive global networks in life science research and product development, and direct knowledge of the local markets.
General Partner
TVM Life Science Innovation II (GP) S.a.r.l.
8, rue Lou Hemmer
L-1748 Senningerberg
Luxemburg
About T7 Therapeutics Inc.
T7 Therapeutics is a special purpose company created to develop one compound to proof-of-concept. The project is fully financed by TVM Life Science Innovation II. To date, the biopharmaceutical asset has completed humanization and will enter GLP toxicology studies and manufacturing in the next few months. Once cleared for clinical development by regulatory authorities, the T7 Therapeutics antibody will be tested in healthy volunteers, and then in patients with psoriatic arthritis to provide a clinical proof-of-concept of efficacy in this indication. T7 Therapeutics, Inc. is funded by TVM Life Science Innovation II and is led by an experienced management team.
This press release contains forward-looking statements about TVM Life Science Innovation II’s investment in a preclinical stage compound to treat certain types of auto-immune diseases that T7 Therapeutics Inc is developing. It reflects TVM’s current beliefs.