Star Therapeutics Secures $125M Funding Boost for Bleeding Disorder Treatment
Star Therapeutics has raised $125 million in a Series D funding round to advance its pipeline of bleeding disorder treatments, with a focus on its lead candidate for von Willebrand disease (VWD). The financing, co-led by Sanofi Ventures and Viking Global Investors, will support the company's ongoing Phase 3 trial of VGA039, a potentially transformative therapy for the most common inherited bleeding disorder.
VGA039: A Potential Game-Changer for VWD Patients
VGA039, a monoclonal antibody targeting Protein S, is designed to promote proper blood clotting in patients with VWD. The drug candidate has received FDA fast track designation and is currently in late-stage testing. Star Therapeutics aims to position VGA039 as a universal hemostatic therapy that could offer significant advantages over current treatments:
- Subcutaneous administration, allowing for self-injection
- Once-monthly dosing, improving convenience compared to standard factor replacement therapies
- Potential efficacy across all types of VWD
Adam Rosenthal, CEO and founder of Star Therapeutics, emphasized the drug's potential impact: "We can treat all types of patients, and all types of bleeds. We're still in generation 1.0 and we're hoping to leapfrog all that incremental innovation and go straight to a subcutaneous therapy."
Competitive Landscape and Market Potential
The VWD treatment landscape is evolving, with recent developments including:
- FDA expansion of a Takeda drug for VWD in September
- Roche's hemophilia drug Hemlibra in advanced testing for VWD
- Hemab Therapeutics' early-stage therapy in development
Star Therapeutics sees a significant market opportunity for VGA039, with VWD affecting up to 1% of the U.S. population. Rosenthal noted, "There hasn't been any innovation because there hasn't been that recognition of the disease burden and the market potential, and I think now that is starting to change."
Funding and Future Plans
The $125 million Series D round brings Star Therapeutics' total funding to over $300 million since its inception in 2018. Key details of the financing include:
- 18 investors participated, including both existing and new backers
- Sanofi Ventures Managing Director Jason Hafler will join Star's board of directors
- Funds will support the Phase 3 trial of VGA039 and further pipeline development
Star Therapeutics is keeping its options open for the future, considering both independent commercialization and potential pharmaceutical partnerships. An initial public offering has not been ruled out, according to Rosenthal.
As the company advances its lead program and explores VGA039's potential in other blood disorders, the recent funding success underscores growing investor confidence in Star Therapeutics' approach to addressing unmet needs in the bleeding disorder space.
References
- Star raises another $125M for its blood disease drug
Star hopes its drug, which is currently in late-stage testing, might prove a more convenient, longer-lasting alternative to standard therapies for Von Willebrand disease.
- Star Therapeutics collects shiny $125M funding boost to push bleeding disorder prospect into orbit
Star Therapeutics will use the financing to support its pipeline of bleeding disorder candidates, including phase 3 von Willebrand disease treatment VGA039.
Explore Further
What are the specific clinical trial results so far for VGA039 in the ongoing Phase 3 study?
How does VGA039 compare in terms of efficacy and safety to current treatments for von Willebrand disease, such as those offered by Takeda and Roche?
What is the estimated market size for VGA039 considering von Willebrand disease affects up to 1% of the U.S. population?
Who are the other competitors in the bleeding disorder treatment space, and how does Star Therapeutics differentiate itself from them?
What are the future commercialization plans for VGA039, and what potential partnerships or strategic collaborations are being considered by Star Therapeutics?