Estrigenix Therapeutics has completed the first closing of a $2 million Series Seed financing to advance its selective estrogen receptor-beta platform. Talents Fund I led the round.
The Milwaukee-based biotechnology company will use the funding to support lead optimization and translational preclinical development. The work is intended to prepare its lead programs for investigational new drug-enabling studies and eventual clinical development.
Estrigenix is developing selective estrogen receptor-beta, or ERβ, therapeutics for women’s health and neurodegenerative diseases. Its platform is designed to influence ERβ biology without using a steroid hormone.
Estrogen receptors are proteins that help regulate biological responses to estrogen. Estrigenix is selectively targeting the beta form of the receptor, which the company believes could provide a common therapeutic pathway across multiple diseases.
The company’s approach differs from treatments that primarily manage symptoms associated with declining estrogen levels. Estrigenix is seeking to develop medicines that address underlying biological mechanisms involved in women’s health and neurodegenerative conditions.
The financing follows several corporate and scientific milestones. Estrigenix recently completed an exclusive intellectual property license and appointed Victoria Zellmer as CEO while continuing the preclinical development of its platform.
The company has also received interest from multiple pharmaceutical companies regarding potential future opportunities involving its lead candidate. No specific partnership agreements or transaction terms were announced.
Lead optimization involves refining a potential drug candidate to improve characteristics such as potency, selectivity, safety and suitability for development. The translational preclinical package will include research intended to support the transition from laboratory studies toward regulatory-stage development.
IND-enabling studies typically evaluate areas such as toxicology, pharmacology and manufacturing before a company seeks authorization to begin human clinical trials. Estrigenix plans to use the seed financing to position its lead programs for that stage.
Estrigenix is incorporated in Delaware and is developing its platform for diseases with significant unmet medical needs. The company believes selective ERβ modulation could support multiple therapeutic programs built around a shared biological mechanism.
KEY QUOTES:
“This financing marks an important inflection point for Estrigenix. It reflects years of scientific progress and disciplined company building, and it allows us to advance a differentiated platform toward clinical development while expanding the opportunities that platform can ultimately address.”
Victoria Zellmer, CEO of Estrigenix Therapeutics
“Selective estrogen receptor-beta biology represents one of the most compelling opportunities in women’s health today. Estrigenix has assembled a differentiated platform with the potential to address multiple women’s health and neurodegenerative diseases through a common biological mechanism.”
“With recent milestones achieved on both the scientific and business fronts, we believe Estrigenix is exceptionally well positioned for its next stage of development.”
Daniel Sem, Ph.D., J.D., Managing General Partner of Talents Fund
