Stellular Bio, which is developing Platelet-derived Regenerative Biologic (PRB) therapeutics, announced it has closed its Series 1 financing round to support advancement of its lead candidate, STLR-201, toward clinical testing as a treatment for Sjögren’s disease dry eye.
The round was led by Ziff Capital Partners and joined by Cockrell Interests and other investors. Stellular said the capital is intended to help move STLR-201 into clinical development, with an initial focus on ocular surface disease associated with Sjögren’s disease.
Sjögren’s disease is a complex, multisystem autoimmune disorder that the company said affects roughly 4 million patients in the United States. Stellular emphasized that eye dryness and irritation are a hallmark symptom and can significantly impact quality of life, and that severe, untreated ocular surface disease can progress to corneal damage and vision loss.
STLR-201 is derived from platelet-progenitor stem cells and is designed to simultaneously modulate multiple cell and tissue types implicated in ocular surface disease. Stellular said the approach draws on research supporting the efficacy of autologous blood products such as platelet-rich plasma for certain ocular conditions, but noted those patient-specific therapies can be cumbersome, inconsistent, and expensive because they must be manufactured separately for each individual from their own blood sample.
In contrast, Stellular said its PRB therapeutics are intended to deliver a standardized, scalable, off-the-shelf option produced with the quality standards associated with approved medicines. The company also said it has demonstrated PRB efficacy in animal models and established scalable manufacturing methods aimed at enabling clinical trials and, eventually, commercial production. While Sjögren’s disease dry eye is the first proof-of-concept target, Stellular said it plans to expand into the broader ocular surface disease market and additional indications over time.
KEY QUOTE:
“PRBs are Goldilocks-like treatments that combine the regenerative potential and inherent polypharmacology of plasma and cell therapies with the reproducibility and economy of scale of traditional biologics. We believe they will enable us to offer important new options for a large number of patients with multifaceted conditions like ocular surface disease, chronic wounds, osteoarthritis, and more.”
Derek Adams, CEO, Stellular Bio
