Ziarco is a Canterbury, UK-based biopharmaceutical company focused on inflammatory skin diseases. Led by President and CEO Mike Yeadon, the company is advancing ZPL-389, a selective histamine H4 receptor antagonist suitable for oral administration, and ZPL-521, a topical cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) inhibitor. The company plans to use the proceeds from its latest financing to generate clinical proof-of-concept data in patients for ZPL-389 in atopic dermatitis and ZPL-521 in psoriasis. Ziarco closed $33.1M in a Series B financing. The round was led by New Enterprise Associates and Lundbeckfond Ventures, with participation from new investor Amgen Ventures and existing investors BVF Partners L.P. and Pfizer Venture Investments. As part of the financing, Ed Mathers of NEA was appointed chairman of Ziarco’s board and Johan Kördel of Lundbeckfond Ventures joined the board. Ziarco is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing innovative therapeutics targeting inflammatory and allergic diseases. Its pipeline includes a histamine H4 receptor antagonist with a lead compound that completed a Phase 1 multiple ascending dose study, a clinical-stage cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) inhibitor, histamine H3 receptor antagonists in advanced preclinical development, and early-stage topical spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibitors. The company intends to invest proceeds from its Series A financing to advance research and development across these programmes. Ziarco has an agreement with Pfizer Inc. granting exclusive worldwide commercialization rights to a portfolio of clinical, preclinical and research assets; Pfizer will receive equity and certain product-based milestone and royalty payments. Investors in the financing include Biotechnology Value Fund L.P. (lead) and Pfizer Venture Investments, along with other BVF affiliates. The company was founded by Dr Mike Yeadon and three former Pfizer colleagues and is associated with leadership experienced in allergy and respiratory research.

Total raised

$33M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series B

Latest activity

Nov 2014