Epidarex Capital creates Nodthera Limited
A pioneering new company based on Selvita research and utilising novel immunological approaches to disease
Epidarex Capital announces the launch of Nodthera Limited, a new biotech company focused on the discovery and development of novel inhibitors of the NLRP3 inflammasome.
Nodthera is based on world-class research conducted within Selvita, an international drug discovery company, with offices in Boston, San Francisco, Cambridge (UK) and Krakow. Nodthera will be headquartered in Edinburgh, UK.
Inflammasomes are large multiprotein complexes that assemble in a cell’s cytoplasm in response to environmental danger signals and are considered to be an essential part of an organism’s innate immune response.
Activation of an inflammasome assembly leads to the release of proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1 and IL-18. Overactivation of the NRLP3 inflammasome is implicated in a wide range of diseases that are a substantial burden on modern healthcare systems such as type 2 diabetes, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.
Until recently, the NLRP3 inflammasome has been a difficult target. However, recent advances and insights from the scientific community has renewed and reinvigorated interest in targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome.
Selective inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome rather than its downstream cytokines holds great therapeutic potential. Nodthera aims to become a key player in developing inhibitors of this protein complex.
Elizabeth Roper, PhD, a Partner at Epidarex Capital, led the deal and commented: ‘Nodthera has the potential to create first-in-class small molecule modulators of the NLRP3 inflammasome complex, which could be a significant development in the field.’ She further added: ‘Epidarex is delighted to be partnering with Selvita to bring this exciting science to market.’
‘We are confident that Nodthera’s therapeutic approach is exceptional and addresses an important class of intracellular receptors implicated in variety of disorders with unmet medical needs. We’re excited to work with a partner such as Nodthera, who shares our vision and belief that in drug discovery joining forces and co-operation is the key to success,’ said Krzysztof Brzozka, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Selvita.
‘As a limited partner in the fund, we are excited to have Epidarex invest in an opportunity to accelerate the development of a novel approach in this rapidly emerging area and potentially help patients with a wide range of diseases, including dementia, in which Lilly has 25 years of research and development experience,’said Johnston Erwin, Vice President of Corporate Business Development at Eli Lilly and Company.