Cardurion Pharmaceuticals has raised a $260M Series B financing led by Ascenta Capital to support development of a first-in-class phosphodiesterase-9 (PDE9) inhibitor for heart failure and a Calcium/Calmodulin-dependent Protein Kinase II (CaMKII) inhibitor with “broad therapeutic potential,” according to the company. Both drug candidates are in Phase II trials. The cardiovascular drug market is one of the world’s largest.
The biotech is working on signaling pathways that regulate heart cell function with the goal of reversing pathophysiological mechanisms that drive cardiovascular disease.The company’s two lead drug candidates are PDE9 inhibitor CRD‑750 and CaMKII inhibitor CRD-4730. The funds will also be used to expand the cardiovascular indications for Cardurion’s portfolio of drug candidates and acquire new drug candidates.
PDE9 is elevated in all forms of heart failure, and limits the beneficial effects of the natriuretic peptide signaling pathway. By inhibiting PDE9, CRD-750 should increase the levels of Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in heart cells, restoring that pathway’s effects.
CaMKII is a protein kinase that modulates calcium cycling. When it becomes hyperactivated the calcium cycling process becomes dysregulated, leading to arrhythmias, heart failure. and other cardiac disorders. CRD-4730 targets the hyperactivation of CaMKI.
The financing included participation by new investors NEA, GV, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Millennium Management, Farallon Capital Management, Invus, Blue Owl Healthcare Opportunities, Delos Capital and Digitalis Ventures, as well as existing investors Bain Capital Life Sciences and Bain Capital Private Equity.
“We are excited to welcome Ascenta Capital and this high-quality group of new investors who share our vision to be a world-class cardiovascular innovator, pursuing treatments for a broad range of debilitating diseases,” said Peter Lawrence, CEO of Cardurion.
He added that, “Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the world, and we are pursuing new therapeutic targets to address unmet needs for patients with these diseases. Our experienced team at Cardurion has shown the ability to translate emerging science in cardiovascular signaling pathways into groundbreaking therapeutics with our PDE9 and CaMKII inhibitor programs, and we have now moved both programs into later-stage clinical studies where we can further evaluate efficacy in patients.”
The company is now evaluating CRD‑750, in two Phase II clinical trials in 640 patients with both types of heart failure, HFrEF and HFpEF. The company also has an ongoing Phase II clinical trial for CRD-4730 for the treatment of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), a rare genetic arrhythmic disease.
Cardurion also plans to pursue development of CaMKII inhibitors in additional major cardiovascular indications. This new investment, the company says. will enable the company to scale its team and continue to build industry-leading capabilities in cardiovascular drug innovation.
In conjunction with this financing, Evan Rachlin, MD, co-founder and managing partner from Ascenta Capital, Dan Lynch, executive venture partner from GV, and Ed Mathers, partner from NEA, will join the Cardurion board of directors.
“We at Ascenta are very impressed with the significant clinical data the Cardurion team has generated for their innovative cardiovascular drug candidates, with strong initial validation for targeting these untapped signaling pathways to address important needs in cardiovascular treatment,” said Rachlin. “We are excited by innovation in cardiovascular medicine, and we look forward to partnering with Cardurion to help drive its mission to bring these new therapies to patients.”
