Boston — Bionyra Pharma has launched with a $165 million oversubscribed Series A financing to advance a clinical-stage pipeline of biologic therapies for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.
The financing was co-led by Jeito Capital and Sofinnova Partners, with participation from Arkin Bio, Sanofi Ventures, Sixty Degree Capital, Vives Partners and Apollo Health Ventures. Sofinnova provided the company’s seed financing and co-founded Bionyra with CEO Frédéric Marrache, M.D., Ph.D., a former Sanofi research and development executive.
Bionyra is developing mono- and multispecific antibodies for diseases including atopic dermatitis and inflammatory bowel disease. Its programs use half-life extension technology intended to prolong the activity of the therapies.
“More than half of patients suffering from immune-mediated inflammatory diseases remain inadequately controlled, highlighting a significant need for better treatment options. Across our pipeline, we are selectively modulating immune pathways that are central drivers of disease in indications where current therapies remain insufficient,” said Dr. Marrache, Co-founder and CEO of Bionyra. “We have built Bionyra around assets and targets with clear therapeutic rationale, relevant biology and optimized clinical strategy to develop therapies that will deliver meaningful impact to people who don’t currently have good options.”
The company’s lead program, BYN-002, is a TL1A monoclonal antibody with half-life extension technology being developed for inflammatory bowel disease and other conditions associated with the TL1A pathway. A Phase 1 study in healthy participants has completed enrollment.
BYN-003 is a bispecific antibody targeting TL1A and IL-23p19. The program entered clinical development in April and is being evaluated in a Phase 1 study.
The company is also advancing BYN-001, an IL-25 monoclonal antibody in the investigational new drug stage for atopic dermatitis and other diseases involving Type 2 inflammation.
Bionyra licensed BYN-002 and BYN-003 from TrueLab Biopharmaceutical and BYN-001 from NovaRock Biotherapeutics. It holds exclusive rights to the programs outside Greater China and is also developing additional preclinical assets.
“So many patients suffering from immune-mediated inflammatory diseases still face daily burden due to limited treatment options,” said Mehdi Ainouche, Partner at Jeito Capital. “Bionyra is uniquely positioned to accelerate delivery of highly promising therapies to patients through a focused and well-designed clinical development strategy aimed at rapidly generating clinical validation and addressing key unmet needs like deeper remission and alternatives for non-responders. We look forward to supporting Frédéric and the entire Bionyra team as the company reaches a pivotal stage in its development while simultaneously building a scalable pipeline in dermatology and IBD.”
Marrache previously served as vice president and executive global project head for clinical development in Sanofi’s immunology and inflammation therapeutic area, where he led early- and mid-stage drug development programs.
“When we co-founded Bionyra with Frédéric, our conviction in both the company and his leadership was grounded in his deep expertise in immune and inflammatory diseases. Today, that conviction is reflected in a $165 million oversubscribed round backed by an exceptional syndicate of investors who share our belief in this pipeline and the team behind it. Looking ahead, we are focused on advancing these programs with the aim of bringing meaningful new treatment options to patients,” said Anta Gkelou, Partner at Sofinnova Partners.
Ainouche and Gkelou will join Bionyra’s board of directors along with Avital Adler, principal at Arkin Bio, and Laia Crespo, partner at Sanofi Ventures.
