The startup develops dendrogenins, a class of molecules aimed at treating hearing loss and neurodegenerative diseases. These compounds provide medical practitioners with alternative therapeutic options for conditions that currently have limited treatment solutions.
Funding
$20.5M 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
Hearing loss and neurodegenerative diseases often lack effective treatments, leaving patients with limited therapeutic options. Current solutions for hearing loss, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, primarily address sound amplification but do not treat the underlying neuronal damage. Similarly, many neurodegenerative conditions have no satisfactory treatments to restore damaged neural pathways.
Solution
Dendrogenix is developing Dendrogenins, a class of first-in-class, small-molecule cholesterol derivatives designed to stimulate cell differentiation and dendrite growth in the nervous and immune systems. These molecules aim to restore synaptic neuronal deficiencies associated with conditions like presbycusis (age-related hearing loss) and neurodegenerative disorders. The company's lead compound, DX243, is undergoing clinical evaluation for presbycusis, targeting the underlying auditory neuron loss. Dendrogenix is also exploring the therapeutic potential of Dendrogenins in other neurological conditions characterized by excitotoxic stress, such as stroke and traumatic brain injury.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes individuals suffering from age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) and patients with neurodegenerative diseases, as well as medical practitioners seeking novel therapeutic options for these conditions.
Features
- Dendrogenins are cholesterol derivatives that promote cell differentiation and dendrite growth.
- DX243, the lead compound, is in Phase 1 clinical trials for the treatment of presbycusis.
- The therapeutic approach targets the restoration of auditory neurons, addressing the limitations of current hearing devices.
- Preclinical studies have demonstrated the potential of Dendrogenins to restore auditory nerve damage caused by excitotoxic stress.
- The drug discovery platform is designed to identify and develop Dendrogenins for various neurodegenerative diseases.
- In vitro and in vivo safety studies have demonstrated a strong safety profile for DX243.