Azitra combines the skin microbiome with genetic engineering to develop live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) and consumer programs using engineered and wild-type bacteria. Its platform leverages proteomics and a proprietary panel of Staphylococcus epidermidis strains to identify candidates for treating skin conditions. Clinical and development programs target cancer therapy–associated skin rashes, orphan indications such as Netherton syndrome, and atopic dermatitis, with additional consumer and OTC product efforts planned. The company was founded in 2014 by scientists from Yale and works with dermatology, microbiology, and genetic engineering experts. Azitra has an existing collaboration and joint development agreement with Bayer announced in January 2020 to advance candidate strains for adverse skin conditions. The company is clinical-stage and recently advanced its financing position through a Series B led by Leaps by Bayer. Azitra develops live biotherapeutic medical dermatology products by combining microbiome science with molecular genetics. Its pipeline includes candidates targeting cancer therapy–associated skin rashes (ATR-04) and Netherton syndrome (ATR-02), and programs for atopic dermatitis and ichthyosis vulgaris. The company has initiated plans to run a series of clinical studies and move its lead candidates into the clinic in 2020. Proceeds from recent financing will be used to expand the management team and advance clinical programs. Azitra was founded in 2014 by scientists from Yale and is based in Farmington, Connecticut. To date the company has raised $17 million. Azitra combines microbiome science and genetic engineering to develop therapies for skin disease. Its lead program, AZT-02, is a topical ointment composed of a proprietary strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis engineered to secrete LEKTI for treating Netherton syndrome. The product is designed to establish residence on the patient’s skin and continuously and stably deliver therapeutic protein in situ, with potential immunomodulatory and anti-pathogen benefits. Azitra advances both consumer health and pharmaceutical programs targeting atopic dermatitis, dry skin, cancer therapy–associated rashes and targeted orphan indications. The company received a Phase II SBIR grant of $719,700 from the National Science Foundation to support advanced development of AZT-02, building on prior Phase I NSF STTR and a Phase I SBIR award from NIAMS (NIH). Principal investigators on the current program are founder and Chief Scientific Officer Travis Whitfill and Julia Oh, Ph.D., of The Jackson Laboratory, which is collaborating on the work. Azitra was founded in 2014 by scientists from Yale University and is based in Farmington, Conn. Azitra is a preclinical-stage biotech focused on treating skin disease by combining the microbiome with molecular genetic engineering. Its pipeline includes pharmaceutical programs for atopic dermatitis (eczema), ichthyosis vulgaris, and Netherton Syndrome, plus a consumer health product to restore microbiome balance for rough, dry, or sensitive skin. The company is preparing for first-in-human testing this year and is advancing CMC, formulation development, and commercialization activities. Specific programs named in the release are AZT-04 (consumer health human studies), AZT-01 (IND-enabling studies for eczema and ichthyosis vulgaris), and a Netherton’s program moving toward proof-of-concept. Azitra was founded in 2014 by scientists from Yale and operates within the UConn Technology Innovation Program ecosystem. The company has raised $5.4 million in total to date. Azitra is a preclinical company that aims to treat skin conditions by harnessing the skin’s own microbiome. Its lead candidate, AZT-01, is a recombinant strain of a safe skin bacterium engineered to secrete therapeutic proteins locally when applied topically in a cream. The bacteria are designed to colonize the skin, restore the microbiome, and deliver missing or therapeutic proteins for conditions such as eczema, staph infections, rare genetic skin diseases and cosmetic applications. The company has been working with scientists in dermatology, microbiology, and microbiomics since 2014 to develop and test its platform. Prior funding included seed support from Peter Thiel’s Breakout Labs program and other non-dilutive grants. The recent financing will fund continued preclinical testing of the platform across a variety of skin conditions. Azitra is based in Farmington, Conn.

Total raised

$28M

Funding rounds

5

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Oct 2020