Nocion Therapeutics – a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company – announced that it has raised $62 million in Series B funding. And Nocion is developing first and potentially best-in-class, small molecule, permanently charged sodium channel blockers (CSCBs) – called nocions – that selectively silence activated nociceptors for treating serious conditions involving cough, itch, and pain.
The proceeds from the funding will be used to evaluate the lead program, Taplucanium Dry Powder for Inhalation, in a Phase 2b study in Chronic Cough patients.
The Series B funding was led by Arkin Bio Capital and Monograph Capital, with participation from additional new investors and existing investors Canaan Partners, F-Prime Capital, Mass General Brigham Ventures, Mission BioCapital and Osage University Partners. With this financing, Nocion has raised $122 million since the company was founded in 2018.
In connection with the Series B financing, Pini Orbach, Ph.D., of Arkin Bio Capital and Freddie Dear of Monograph Capital will join Nocion’s Board of Directors.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are grateful to our new and existing investors for their commitment to our lead program in this challenging disease. This financing will enable us to evaluate Taplucanium in patients suffering from Chronic Cough. We will also be able to conduct additional toxicology and product development activities with an eye towards being ready for Phase 3 clinical trials.”
- Dr. Richard Batycky, Chief Executive Officer of Nocion
“There is a real need for novel treatments beyond P2X3 antagonists and we believe that Nocion’s inhaled Taplucanium has the potential to become a novel treatment modality for refractory chronic cough patients.”
- Dr. Pini Orbach, Head of Pharma at Arkin Bio Capital
“Beyond the clear unmet need and novel mechanism of action of Taplucanium, we saw this financing as an opportunity to partner with a great management team, like-minded sophisticated co-investors including a strategic equity partner with a wealth of knowledge in inhaled respiratory therapeutic drug development, and a clinical trials partner with direct experience in running the clinical studies required in this disease. All in all, maximizing the chances for success.”
- Freddie Dear, Principal at Monograph Capital
