The startup develops targeted therapies for patients with rare bone and connective tissue disorders, utilizing gene therapy techniques to prevent symptom onset and slow disease progression. By addressing the underlying genetic causes, the company enables patients to achieve improved health outcomes and quality of life.
Funding
$53M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Patients with rare bone and connective tissue disorders often lack effective treatment options to prevent symptom onset or slow disease progression. Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), a rare genetic disease, is characterized by abnormal bone formation in muscles and soft tissues, leading to severe debilitation and shortened lifespan.
Solution
āshibio is developing innovative therapeutics for bone and connective tissue disorders, including fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). Their lead program focuses on inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), a key enzyme involved in abnormal bone formation. Their investigational antibody, andecaliximab, specifically inhibits MMP-9 and has shown promise in preclinical studies for preventing heterotopic ossification (HO) in FOP. āshibio is initiating a Phase 2/3 clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of andecaliximab in patients with FOP.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes patients with rare bone and connective tissue disorders, particularly fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), and the healthcare professionals who treat them.
Features
- Andecaliximab: A humanized antibody that specifically inhibits MMP-9
- Targets matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) enzyme to prevent abnormal bone formation
- Potential treatment for fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP)
- Phase 2/3 clinical trial in progress to evaluate efficacy in FOP patients
- Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA and EMA for the treatment of FOP