BioCentury
ARTICLE | Financial News

Spyryx raises $18M in series A

May 8, 2015 2:17 AM UTC

Respiratory newco Spyryx Biosciences Inc. (Research Triangle Park, N.C.) raised $18 million in a series A round from Canaan Partners; Hatteras Venture Partners; and 5AM Ventures. The University of North Carolina spinout is developing preclinical cystic fibrosis therapies.

Spyryx is selecting lead compounds from a peptide library targeted against the binding domain of short palate, lung, and nasal epithelial clone 1 (SPLUNC1) to regulate sodium transport via the epithelial sodium channel ( ENaC) in CF patients. CEO John Taylor told BioCentury he expects the series A investment to last until Phase II trials begin, but did not give a timeline for the start of human studies. Taylor said Spyryx is also evaluating peptides to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ...