QurAlis Raises $42 Million to Develop New Therapies for ALS

Rare Daily Staff

QurAlis has raised $42 million in a series A financing to support the development of precision medicines for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and genetically-related frontotemporal dementia, neurodegenerative diseases for which there are currently no cures.

“This series A funding will allow us to take the next major step in our growth and advance our lead programs into the clinic,” said Kasper Roet, CEO of QurAlis.

The financing was led by LS Polaris Innovation Fund, lead seed investor Mission BioCapital, INKEF Capital, and the Dementia Discovery Fund, and co-led by Droia Ventures. Additional new investors include Mitsui Global Investment and Dolby Family Ventures, joined by investments from existing investors Amgen Ventures, MP Healthcare Venture Management, and Sanford Biosciences.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rare progressive neurodegenerative disease impacting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ALS breaks down nerve cells, reducing muscle function and causing loss of muscle control. ALS can be traced to mutations in more than 25 different genes and is often caused by a combination of multiple sub-forms of the condition. Average life expectancy for people with ALS is just three years.

QurAlis uses technology developed by Harvard professors Kevin Eggan and Clifford to systematically investigate treatments targeting specific disease-causing mechanisms in patient sub-populations. The company evaluates a wide range of potential treatments through a system that utilizes lab-grown neuronal networks derived from the cells of ALS patients.

QurAlis addresses three components of ALS pathology: altered motor system excitability; repeat expansion toxicity; and immune system malfunction. Each program has a defined ALS patient population based on both disease-causing genetic mutation(s) and clinical biomarkers and is aimed at the development of disease-modifying, clinically meaningful therapies that may be generalizable to larger patient populations.

QurAlis has three programs in development and its lead candidate, ezogabine, is currently in a phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of ALS.

Photo: Kasper Roet, CEO of QurAlis