SolasCure is advancing Aurase Wound Gel, an investigational hydrogel formulation that contains tarumase (provisional INN), an enzyme cloned from medical maggots, for the treatment of chronic wounds. The company is in clinical development and has published Phase IIa trial data. Recent non-dilutive funding will be used to optimize the product for further clinical trials by improving ambient temperature stability and adjusting release kinetics so tarumase remains at optimal concentrations at the wound surface. SolasCure aims to deliver a cost-effective, fast, efficacious, and pain-free therapy usable in community and home care settings. The work targets a substantial unmet need: millions of patients worldwide with chronic wounds and a large associated healthcare and economic burden. Innovate UK’s award provides technical validation to support continued development. SolasCure is a Cambridge, England–based biotechnology company developing Aurase Wound Gel, a hydrogel containing a recombinant enzyme cloned from medical maggots intended to accelerate wound debridement. Pre-clinical results published in the International Wound Journal showed preliminary evidence supporting the enzymatic debridement approach and indicated a favorable local and systemic safety profile. The company completed a CLEANVLU first-in-man Phase IIa safety study in chronic venous leg ulcer subjects and is currently collating and analyzing those results. Aurase is due to enter further Phase II efficacy-supporting trials with larger and more diverse patient groups. SolasCure raised GBP 10.9m (approximately USD 13.3m) in a Series B to progress its clinical development and advance the product toward demonstrating efficacy. Founded in 2017 as a spin-off from BRAIN Biotech AG, the company has attracted industry veterans, institutional venture, and strategic investors. SolasCure's lead investigational product, Aurase Wound Gel, is a biologic combining an enzyme cloned from medical maggots with a hydrogel to perform wound debridement. The company progressed through an extensive preclinical research programme between 2018 and 2020. A first-in-human Phase IIa study has begun, with sites in the UK, US and Hungary. The trial is expected to yield results in 2022 and, if successful, the team plans to proceed to Phase IIb studies. SolasCure completed a Series A investment round totaling £15 million prior to initiating these clinical activities. The company reported making strong progress despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. An IND for Aurase Wound Gel has been granted by the FDA, and the company has enrolled its first patients. SolasCure is developing proprietary technology that leverages biomimicry and evidence-based medicine to empower health care professionals to treat chronic wounds. Its first investigational product, Aurase®, is a hydrogel containing an enzyme cloned from medical maggots to support clinicians in wound care. The company raised £1.2m to advance development of Aurase®. The funding was provided by Seneca Partners via two vehicles. SolasCure is led by Dr. Sam Bakri, Executive Chairman and CEO. The article does not report operating metrics or other financings.

Total raised

$36M

Funding rounds

5

Latest round

Grant

Latest activity

Mar 2024