Dermatology play Dermira raises $51 million in series C

Dermira Inc. (Redwood City, Calif.) raised $51 million in a series C round and announced a number of management changes and board appointments. The C round came from existing investors Bay City Capital; New Enterprise Associates; Canaan Partners; and UCB Group (Euronext:UCB). New investors Apple Tree Partners; Aisling Capital; Rock Springs Capital; Sabby Capital; and other undisclosed healthcare investors also participated.

Dermira's lead internal program is DRM04, a topical small molecule anticholinergic that is in Phase IIb testing to treat hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). In July, Dermira gained exclusive rights to develop UCB's autoimmune drug Cimzia certolizumab pegol for psoriasis in the U.S., Canada and the EU. The pegylated humanized antibody fragment against TNF alpha has completed Phase II testing for the indication (see BioCentury Extra, July 3). ...