Imara is a Cambridge, MA-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on sickle cell disease (SCD) and other hemoglobinopathies and led by CEO Rahul D. Ballal, Ph.D. The company is developing IMR-687, a highly selective, potent small-molecule inhibitor of PDE9 designed to reduce red blood cell sickling and vascular blockage underlying SCD pathology. IMR-687 completed a Phase 1 study in healthy volunteers and is currently being evaluated in a multi-national Phase 2a study in adult patients with SCD. Imara intends to use recent proceeds to advance IMR-687 for the treatment of SCD and thalassemia and to expand its pipeline. The company recently raised new capital to support these development plans. Imara was launched by orphan drug accelerator Cydan Development to advance IMR-687, an orally administered, potent and selective PDE9 inhibitor discovered by H. Lundbeck A/S. The company holds an exclusive worldwide license from Lundbeck, which retains minority ownership and is entitled to milestone payments and sales royalties. Imara is responsible for all future development and commercialization costs for IMR-687. Preclinical data cited by the company show reductions in red blood cell sickling and blood‑vessel occlusion and a robust preclinical safety profile. Imara plans to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the U.S. FDA to develop IMR-687 for sickle cell disease in 2016. The launch follows an 18‑month scientific collaboration and de‑risking effort between Cydan and Lundbeck. Imara is the second orphan drug company launched by Cydan (the accelerator was founded in 2013 and is based in Tech Square in Cambridge, Mass.).

Total raised

$94M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series B

Latest activity

Mar 2019