Zikani Therapeutics leverages its proprietary TURBO-ZMTM chemistry platform to develop novel Ribosome Modulating Agents (RMAs) aimed at treating rare diseases caused by nonsense mutations. The platform enables rapid synthesis and optimization of RMAs to target the human ribosome in a disease-specific manner. Zikani has reported positive pre-clinical data across multiple indications, including APC mutant colon cancer, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), class 1 cystic fibrosis, and recessive dystrophic and junctional epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB and JEB). The company is advancing its nonsense mutation readthrough programs from lead optimization to candidate selection and is moving into pre-clinical development. Management says the financing will be used to advance those programs and to pursue partnerships that leverage the TURBO-ZMTM platform. Zikani positions itself to transition from early-stage to clinical-stage research as it progresses selected programs. Macrolide Pharmaceuticals develops next-generation macrolide antibiotics engineered to have first-in-class Gram-negative activity against multi-drug resistant bacterial infections. The company uses a fully synthetic technology platform licensed from Harvard University that enables creation of new macrolides from basic chemical building blocks, broadening the class from traditional Gram-positive to include MDR Gram-negative pathogens. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts, Macrolide's lead program targets serious infections caused by resistant Gram-negative pathogens. The company recently completed a $20 million investor financing and also received a previously announced CARB-X award to accelerate development. Proceeds will support advancing novel IV and oral macrolide candidates, including work to support filing an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for its lead program. The company also announced Mahesh Karande as President and CEO to lead clinical and business development efforts. Macrolide Pharmaceuticals develops novel macrolide antibiotics using a proprietary total-synthesis chemistry platform invented by Prof. Andrew Myers at Harvard. The platform enables synthesis of a broad range of macrolides and has produced initial compounds with promising antibacterial activity. The company aims to extend the macrolide class’ spectrum, targeting both Gram-negative infections with limited treatment options and Gram-positive organisms. Proceeds from the recent financing will be used to expand the proprietary drug discovery platform and accelerate development of a pipeline of antibiotic candidates. Macrolide holds exclusive rights to the technology via a worldwide license from Harvard’s Office of Technology Development. The company is based in Newton, Mass., and was founded by Prof. Myers and Dr. Lawrence Miller.

Total raised

$50M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Series A

Latest activity

Apr 2020