Dianthus Launches with $100 Million to Develop Antibody Complement Therapeutics

Dianthus Therapeutics said it raised $100 million in a series A financing to advance the next generation of selective complement therapeutics to treat severe and rare autoimmune diseases.

Photo: Marino Garcia, president and CEO, Dianthus Therapeutics

5AM Ventures, Avidity Partners, and Fidelity Management & Research Company led the financing with participation from additional investors including Wedbush Healthcare Partners and founding investors Fairmount, Tellus BioVentures, and Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners.

The financing will be used to expand leadership and scientific teams, advance the company’s lead program, DNTH103, to the clinic this year, and to accelerate additional discovery pipeline programs for people living with severe and rare autoimmune diseases. DNTH103 is a potent, next-generation monoclonal antibody that selectively targets the active form of complement C1s, potentially enabling a lower dosing volume and a less frequent subcutaneous administration that is further enhanced with half-life extension technology. 

Dianthus also announced the appointment of Marino Garcia as president and CEO, joining in November 2021, and Simrat Randhawa as chief medical officer. Garcia, a veteran dealmaker and strategist, brings more than 25 years of industry experience in business development and operational leadership roles at top biotech and pharma companies, most recently as senior vice president, Corporate and Business Development at Zealand Pharma. Randhawa brings more than 20 years of clinical practice and pharmaceutical industry experience to Dianthus, including senior leadership roles focused in the autoimmune and rare disease spaces. He most recently served as senior vice president of Clinical and Medical Affairs at Aurinia Pharmaceuticals.

Dianthus says its monoclonal antibodies have the potential to overcome the limitations of current complement therapeutics. Unlike current antibody therapies that bind to both inactive and active complement proteins, DNTH103 selectively targets only the active form of the C1s complement protein, enabling a lower dosing volume and less frequent administration. Its half-life extension technology also further reduces dosing frequency.

With these differentiated attributes and high potency inhibition of C1s, DNTH103 is designed to relieve the burden of high-volume, frequent administration with IV infusions or inconvenient, frequent subcutaneous dosing. Accelerating the development of a more convenient subcutaneous therapy could be transformative in expanding the potential patient populations that could benefit from complement therapies, while reducing the discomfort and disruptions that pervade the lives of patients today – ultimately allowing more patients to live healthier lives to their fullest potential. 

“We are committed to improving the lives of people living with severe and rare autoimmune diseases and are confident that our selective antibodies have the potential to be best-in-class therapeutics,” said Marino Garcia, president and CEO, Dianthus Therapeutics. “Dianthus is positioned to become a leading, next-generation complement company guided by a deep understanding of the needs of patients.”

Author: Rare Daily Staff