Rapafusyn Pharmaceuticals, a Baltimore, MD-based company which specializes in the discovery and development of therapeutic drugs based on non-degrading molecular glues, raised $28M in Series A funding.
The round was led by 3E Bioventures Capital and Proxima Ventures Ltd. with participation from Lapam Capital.
The company intends to use the funds to accelerate the progress of its pipeline of macrocyclic peptide-based non-degrading molecular glues and further enhance its internal capabilities.
Founded by Jun O. Liu, Rapafusyn Pharmaceuticals provides a platform that leverages non-degrading macrocyclic molecular glues (RapaGlues™) to address challenging therapeutic targets. It has constructed both DNA-encoded libraries (DELs) and arrayed libraries of RapaGlues™ that form neo-PPIs to inhibit a protein from its native activity. These compounds are rationally designed and engineered to bind FKBP and form a ternary complex with the disease target protein, offering a promising avenue for modulating intricate protein-protein interactions. RapaGlues™ have proven effective in producing innovative chemical starting points for challenging drug targets. The modular architecture enables SAR and subsequent optimization for potency, selectivity, and physicochemical properties to accelerate drug discovery and development. It frequently exhibit cell permeability directly from the starting point, enhancing their potential for therapeutic development.
FinSMEs
24/06/2024