The new capital is intended to advance and expand Scirhom’s innovative therapeutic strategy in the field of autoimmune diseases. According to the company, the first clinical trial with SR-878, a highly specific monoclonal antibody against the target molecule iRhom2, is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2024.
“The right time to take the next step”
The biopharmaceutical company Scirhom, headquartered in Martinsried near Munich, has set itself the goal of establishing a new treatment strategy for autoimmune diseases and other potential indications by selectively targeting iRhom2 at TACE/ADAM17, a major switch for various signaling pathways relevant to autoimmune diseases. iRhom2 is a protein found in human cells that plays an important role in regulating inflammatory processes.
Dr. Jens Ruhe, co-founder, managing director and COO of Scirhom, comments on the current financing round:
“Since its founding, Scirhom has generated sound scientific insights and applied methods to establish a leading position in iRhom2-targeting biopharmaceuticals. This includes a comprehensive IND/CTA-ready data and CMC package as well as strong patent protection. Now is the right time to take the next step and advance our innovative and potentially groundbreaking therapeutic strategy through clinical efficacy demonstration and beyond to reach patients who need better autoimmune treatments.”
Based on positive preclinical data obtained in vitro and in established animal models for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and chronic inflammatory bowel disease, Scirhom has prepared its first program for testing in the clinical phase 1. The goal of the study is to examine the safety of the active ingredient in healthy subjects and to provide initial evidence of clinical efficacy in a second part.
Effective treatments for autoimmune diseases
Dr. Jan Poth, managing director and CEO of Scirhom, explains:
“We are delighted to have won such a high-caliber international investor consortium, and we greatly appreciate our existing shareholders supporting Scirhom during this critical phase of its development. We look forward to working with our new and existing partners and board members to enable patients an alternative therapeutic option and to address the previously unmet medical need for substantially more effective and safer treatments for autoimmune diseases.”
Hans-Ulrich Rabe, current board chairman and one of four founding investors who jointly invest in biotech startups through their investment platform Ventura Ace, adds:
“We are delighted to have supported Scirhom from its founding through to CTA approval and look forward to collaborating with the new investors to bring Scirhom’s leading antibody into clinical development.”
