Selectivity sets off $37M series A for mTOR company Aeovian

Preclinical selectivity data for Aeovian’s mTORC1 inhibitor prompted venBio and Sofinnova Investments to co-lead the biotech’s $37 million series A after long eyeing the space.

“mTORC1 selective inhibition has been a Holy Grail target in big pharma for a long time,” venBio’s Richard Gaster told BioCentury. The master regulator mTOR has been targeted by dozens of drugs for diseases ranging from cancer to transplant rejection, but an mTORC1 inhibitor that avoids the toxic side effects caused by off-target mTORC2 inhibition has eluded the field (see “Mastering mTor”)...