Founded in 2014 by David Portman, M.D., Sermonix is a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing female-specific oncology products and is currently undertaking two Phase 2 clinical studies of its lead investigational drug, lasofoxifene. Lasofoxifene is an investigational nonsteroidal selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) licensed globally from Ligand Pharmaceuticals and previously studied in comprehensive Phase 1–3 non-oncology trials in more than 15,000 postmenopausal women. Sermonix has exclusive rights to develop and commercialize lasofoxifene in the area of ESR1 mutations, with novel activity discovered at Duke University, targeting an area of high unmet need in metastatic ER+ breast cancer. The company intends to use proceeds to advance lasofoxifene through late-stage clinical development as a next-generation oral SERM for patients with ESR1 mutations. Management includes experienced drug-development executives (Paul Plourde, Barry Komm, Elizabeth Attias, Simon Jenkins) and non-executive chairman Anthony Wild. Initial data from both Phase 2 clinical trials was expected in H1 2022. Sermonix's core product is oral lasofoxifene, a nonsteroidal selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) licensed from Ligand Pharmaceuticals and positioned for precision treatment of ER+ breast cancer with ESR1 mutations. Lasofoxifene has been studied in more than 15,000 postmenopausal women in prior non-oncology trials, has novel activity in ESR1 mutations, and benefits from late-expiring patent protection and a U.S. FDA Fast Track designation. The company is conducting the open-label, randomized, multicenter Phase 2 ELAINE study comparing oral lasofoxifene to intramuscular fulvestrant in postmenopausal women with locally advanced or metastatic ER+/HER2- breast cancer harboring ESR1 mutations. Sermonix plans to use proceeds from its recent financing to enroll and complete this Phase 2 program and to advance lasofoxifene toward potential regulatory approval. Management includes experienced biopharma executives with prior roles at AstraZeneca, Wyeth, Pfizer and others, and the company added several seasoned industry board members in 2019. Financially, Sermonix closed a US$26 million Series A in July 2019 to fund the Phase 2 work. Sermonix Pharmaceuticals focuses on developing and commercializing female-specific oncology products, with its lead investigational drug lasofoxifene at the center of its pipeline. The company holds exclusive worldwide licensing rights to oral lasofoxifene from Ligand Pharmaceuticals and has secured exclusive rights to Duke University intellectual property for endocrine-resistant breast cancer. Lasofoxifene has been evaluated in a comprehensive phase I–III program involving more than 15,000 women and demonstrated an 83% reduction in ER+ breast cancer in a five-year PEARL osteoporosis trial of over 8,500 women. Sermonix intends to advance lasofoxifene into a Phase II clinical trial in ER+ metastatic breast cancer and to continue clinical development toward regulatory approval. Founded in 2014 by David Portman, MD, the company is led by an experienced management team with clinical and scientific leadership.

Total raised

$70M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Series A

Latest activity

Nov 2021