Advancing tolerance therapeutics for diabetes and other immune disorders

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—AnTolRx Inc. has signed a Series A funding agreement with Pfizer Inc., Orion Equity Partners LLC and JDRF, the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. The funding parties will provide $4 million over two years to fund research and development of AnTolRx’s antigen-specific Targeted Nanoparticle Tolerance Therapeutics (TNTT) to treat immune disorders, including T1D. The company’s technology is based on the work of Dr. Francisco Quintana, an associate scientist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and associate professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School.

“AnTolRx’s nanoparticles aim to co-deliver targeted antigens and a tolerogenic factor to suppress pathogenic antigen-specific immune responses and thereby restore more normal immunoregulation in a variety of autoimmune disordersm,” said Mark Carthy, AnTolRx’s CEO. “We are grateful for the funding and support we have received from Pfizer, JDRF and Orion, as we continue to focus on developing disease-modifying therapies for patients with immune disorders, including type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease.”

Pfizer led the investment round, and also has an exclusive option to in-license the company’s T1D candidate upon achievement of certain milestones.

“Pfizer is committed to exploring novel approaches for inducing tolerance in autoimmune disorders, and we believe that AnTolRx’s technology may have potential to help create therapeutic value for patients in need,” said Michael Vincent, a senior vice president at Pfizer and its chief scientific officer, inflammation and immunology.

“JDRF is excited to participate in this syndicated equity investment with Orion and Pfizer. We understand the significance of capitalizing on early stage opportunities to cure, prevent and treat type 1 diabetes, and we believe this partnership will greatly benefit the T1D community,” said Derek Rapp, JDRF president and CEO. “JDRF has funded the development of the novel, innovative science on which AnTolRx is built since the academic research stage, and we are proud to continue our support as it advances to a commercial setting.”