Hemab Raises $55 Million to Advance Therapeutics for Rare Bleeding Disorders

Hemab, a company based in Denmark and the United States, raised $55 million in a series A financing to advance the development of a pipeline of antibody-based therapies for serious underserved bleeding and thrombosis disorders.

Photo: Benny Sorensen, CEO of Hemab

Novo Holdings, HealthCap, and RA Capital Management led the financing.

Proceeds from the financing will be used to progress the company’s pipeline of monoclonal and bispecific antibody-based therapeutics into later stages of development. The pipeline will initially focus on underserved people living with rare bleeding disorders such as Glanzmann’s Thrombasthenia (GT), with plans to expand into more common disorders of hemostasis and thrombosis. The financing will also enable Hemab to further build the team and expand its operational footprint.

Glanzmann thrombasthenia (GT) is a rare inherited blood clotting disorder characterized by the impaired function of platelets that are essential for proper blood clotting. Symptoms usually include abnormal bleeding, which may be severe. Prolonged untreated or unsuccessfully treated hemorrhaging associated with Glanzmann thrombasthenia may be life threatening.

“This financing will enable us to accelerate the development of innovative therapeutics for long underserved patients with serious bleeding and thrombosis disorders,” said Benny Sorensen, CEO of Hemab. “Despite the innovations seen in treatments for hemophilia A and B in the last five decades, treatments for other rare bleeding disorders such as, for example GT, are still limited to blood transfusions and acute treatments. We owe these patients new treatment options and Hemab is uniquely positioned to leapfrog drug development of these medicines and bring treatment paradigms into the 21st century.”

Sorensen, who served on Hemab’s board of directors, will be based in the United States. Sorensen brings a wealth of patient-centered R&D experience in many therapeutic areas including thrombosis and hemostasis. Until recently, Sorensen served as head of clinical development at Codiak BioSciences and has moved to be on its scientific advisory board. Hemab’s co-founders Johan Henrik Faber, who held leadership positions within hemophilia drug research and development at Novo Nordisk, will serves as chief technology officer. Søren Bjørn will act as a scientific advisor and Thomas Batchelor joined the board of directors.

“We created Hemab just over six months ago and we are very pleased to announce this significant financing backed by top tier investors from the Nordics and the United States.” Benny Sorensen, CEO of Hemab. “Hemab’s novel approach to effectively treat rare bleeding disorders lacking effective therapeutic options is unique and provides potential for a breakthrough therapy across several underserved hematological diseases.”

Author: Rare Daily Staff