Arda Therapeutics has secured $43m in Series A financing to develop targeted cell depletion therapies.
Andreessen Horowitz (a16z Bio + Health) spearheaded the investment round with contributions from a consortium of investors including Two Sigma Ventures, RV Invest, Eli Lilly and Company, GV and Biovision Ventures.
The company is focused on eliminating the cells responsible for disease, rather than simply modulating the proteins they produce.
Its advanced single-cell-based discovery engine plays a crucial role in detecting the specific pathogenic cells that cause disease and their surface markers with remarkable precision.
This novel method paves the way to create targeted biologics that can selectively eradicate harmful cells, thereby preserving healthy tissue.
The potential benefits of this approach include significantly improved efficacy and reduced side effects when compared to traditional treatments.
Arda's technology could potentially treat a range of conditions including fibrotic diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, and autoimmune and metabolic disorders.
Arda Therapeutics founder and CEO Adam Freund stated: “Arda is at the forefront of a paradigm shift in treating chronic diseases.
“By focusing on the cells at the core of disease, we can develop therapies that are not only more effective, but also have the potential to fundamentally change patient outcomes. With drug approval rates declining and efficacy improvements stalling, Arda’s strategy to target cells — not pathways — offers a transformative shift in how chronic diseases are treated. With the support of our Series A investors, Arda is well-positioned to progress our lead programmes toward the clinic and expand our platform to tackle even more disease areas.”
In conjunction with the funding announcement, Arda also appointed Scott Turner as its new chief scientific officer.
Turner stated: “I’m thrilled to be joining Arda at such an exciting time. “The team has built an impressive platform for targeting pathogenic cells with precision, which holds tremendous potential for addressing the unmet needs in chronic disease.
“I look forward to working closely with the team to advance our lead programmes toward the clinic and develop innovative therapies that can make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives.”
