Cough company Attenua raises $35M series A, names CEO

Attenua Inc. (Mountain View, Calif.) raised $35 million in a series A round led by new investor Omega Funds. New investors Abingworth, OrbiMed Advisors and Redmile Group also participated.

Attenua plans to start Phase II trials in 4Q18 or 1Q19 of lead candidate ATA-101 (formerly TC-5619) to treat chronic cough. The company acquired the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha 7 (CHRNA7) agonist from Catalyst Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ:CBIO) in 2016. Targacept Inc., with which Catalyst merged in 2015, discontinued the candidate after it missed the primary endpoint in a Phase II trial to treat ADHD...