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Biotechnology company Purespring Therapeutics has raised about $105 million to fund its development of gene therapies for diseases of the kidney.
The Series B funding announced Wednesday was led by Sofinnova Partners and will support Purespring’s initiation of a Phase 1/2 study of its lead candidate for IgA nephropathy, or IgAN. Forbion, Glide Healthcare and founding investor Syncona Limited also participated in the round.
Like many gene therapy developers, the company uses adeno-associated viruses, or AAVs, as the envelope for shuttling its gene therapies into the body. Established by Syncona in 2020, the company was formed to take AAV gene therapy into the kidneys, an organ that can be difficult to target.
Its choice of lead candidate, for IgAN, puts it in the competitive field, as a number of other drugmakers are working on new drugs — outside of gene therapy — for the rare kidney condition. Both Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and Novartis have acquired IgAN drug developers recently.
IgAN results from the body producing too many antibodies that build up in the kidney, causing damage and eventually organ failure. While there are approved medications to treat disease symptoms, Purespring aims to target the condition’s roots. Its treatments targets a specialized cell called the podocyte, which it says are associated with approximately 60% of renal diseases.
Earlier this year, Purespring presented preclinical data for its AAV gene therapy at the 61st European Renal Association Congress. And in 2023, a paper published in the Science Translational Medicine showed the company’s gene therapy could successfully introduce DNA into podocytes in vivo.
“Our novel treatment platform and deep understanding of kidney disease puts us in a position to stop, reverse and even cure kidney disease,” Purespring’s CEO Julian Hanak said in a statement. “The funds raised will allow us to bring our novel treatments to patients in the clinic.”
The company will present IgAN data for the first time at the American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Week meeting later this month.