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Disarm Therapeutics Unveils Breakthrough Approach to Treat Patients with Neurological Diseases by Preventing Axonal Degeneration | ||
By: PR Newswire Association LLC. - 19 Sep 2017 | Back to overview list |
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CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Disarm Therapeutics, a new biotechnology company developing therapeutics to treat patients with neurological diseases by preventing axonal degeneration, today announced the recent completion of a $30 million Series A financing. The round was led by Atlas Venture, with co-investors Lightstone Ventures and AbbVie Ventures. Disarm was co-founded, seeded, and incubated in 2016 by Atlas Venture, together with Dr. Jeffrey Milbrandt and Dr. Aaron DiAntonio of Washington University in St. Louis. Axonal degeneration causes disability and disease progression in a broad range of chronic and acute diseases of the central, ocular, and peripheral nervous systems. Disarm is developing therapeutics to inhibit the SARM1 protein, recently identified by Disarm's scientific founders as the central driver of axonal degeneration. Based on this discovery, Disarm is pioneering a breakthrough treatment approach for patients with neurological diseases. "Solving the puzzle of axonal degeneration has challenged scientists and physicians for more than a century," said Jason Rhodes, partner at Atlas Venture, and co-founder, chairman, and acting CEO of Disarm Therapeutics. "Now, for the first time, we have a therapeutic approach to directly prevent the loss of axons in patients with diseases including multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, glaucoma, and peripheral neuropathies." "In our recent Neuron publication, we demonstrated that SARM1 itself is the central driver of axonal degeneration," said Jeffrey Milbrandt, M.D., Ph.D., and Aaron DiAntonio, M.D., Ph.D. of Washington University and co-founders of Disarm Therapeutics. "Importantly, we found that SARM1 possesses an intrinsic enzymatic activity that can be targeted by novel therapeutics." "Using our proprietary product engine, the Disarm team has discovered novel, potent SARM1 inhibitors," said Rajesh Devraj, Ph.D., co-founder and CSO of Disarm Therapeutics. "We plan to translate these potential therapeutics to human proof of concept in a range of neurological diseases, supported by non-invasive biomarkers." Founders, Advisors, and Board
Disarm's Board of Directors includes: Mr. Jason Rhodes, chairman; Dr. Rajesh Devraj, CSO; Ms. Jean George, General Partner of Lightstone Ventures; Dr. Jeffrey Milbrandt; Dr. Alfred Sandrock; and Dr. Scott Brun, VP Scientific Affairs and Head of AbbVie Ventures, and Dr. Aaron DiAntonio as observers. Disarm has licensed exclusive rights to key SARM1 discoveries from Washington University in St. Louis. About Disarm Therapeutics About Atlas Venture About Lightstone Ventures About AbbVie Ventures Contacts:
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