Orthogon Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on polyomavirus infections, announced it has raised an additional $11 million in follow-on financing, bringing its total capital raised to $36 million. The funding will support continued development of its first-in-class antiviral drug targeting BK polyomavirus, a major source of complications in transplant patients with no currently approved treatments.
The company is developing an oral therapy designed to address the full spectrum of BK virus infection, from early-stage reactivation to severe systemic disease. Its approach targets viral proteins that have historically been considered difficult to treat with drugs, positioning the program as a potential breakthrough in treating transplant-associated infections.
Orthogon’s lead candidate focuses on the VP1 capsid protein, delivering antiviral activity directly at the site of viral replication. This mechanism enables sustained control of BK virus across variants and related polyomaviruses, including those affecting immunocompromised patients.
In parallel, the company has conducted research analyzing hundreds of patient-derived BK virus sequences, demonstrating that the virus exhibits significant diversity in antibody-binding regions and can replicate beyond the reach of circulating antibodies. These findings highlight the limitations of existing therapeutic approaches and support Orthogon’s strategy of targeting viral proteins with small-molecule drugs.
Beyond its BK virus program, Orthogon is advancing additional therapies targeting polyomaviruses such as the JC virus, as well as other transplant-associated infections, leveraging its proprietary drug discovery platform.
KEY QUOTES:
“We built this program to meet the realities of transplant care. We designed around those constraints, arriving at a candidate profile that we’re excited to take into development.”
Ali H. Munawar, Ph.D., CEO, Orthogon Therapeutics
“This is not a conventional antiviral setting. We built this program to meet the realities of transplant care. These patients are treated within a narrow balance of immunosuppression, organ function, and high pill burden. We designed around those constraints, arriving at a candidate profile that we’re excited to take into development.”
Ali H. Munawar, Ph.D., CEO, Orthogon Therapeutics
