Evan Cheah: Driving Breakthroughs in Vaccine Development and Regenerative Medicine with Inno Therapeutics

Evan Cheah, a finance expert with experience at Bloomberg, founded Inno Therapeutics in 2018. The company specializes in drug development, vaccine innovation, and cellular therapeutic research, development, and manufacturing. Cheah's long-term aim is to drive breakthroughs in areas like vaccine development, advanced cell culture systems, and translational research for regenerative medicine.

Title: Actio Biosciences Secures $66 Million Series B Financing to Advance Genetic Therapies

Actio Biosciences, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, has secured $66 million in Series B financing to advance its pipeline of small molecule therapeutics for rare and common diseases. The funding round was co-led by Regeneron Ventures and Deerfield Management, with participation from existing investors including Canaan, Droia Ventures, and Euclidean Capital [1].

The Series B funding will support the advancement of Actio's lead programs, ABS-1230 and ABS-0871. ABS-1230 is a KCNT1 inhibitor for the treatment of KCNT1-related epilepsy, while ABS-0871 is a TRPV4 inhibitor for the treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2C (CMT2C). Both programs have received rare pediatric and orphan drug designations from the FDA [1].

ABS-1230 is a first-in-class oral, selective small molecule inhibitor for KCNT1-related epilepsy. The company plans to initiate the Phase 1 clinical trial in the second half of 2025, with plans to expand into a proof-of-concept Phase 1b study in early 2026. The program has shown promise in preclinical studies, demonstrating inhibition of all recurrently observed pathogenic mutations in the KCNT1 gene [1].

ABS-0871, on the other hand, is a first-in-class oral, small molecule TRPV4 inhibitor for the treatment of CMT2C. Preclinical evaluation has shown marked improvements in motor function and mobility compared to untreated controls. The program is currently advancing in a Phase 1 clinical trial, with plans to expand into a Phase 1b study in 2026. ABS-0871 may also have therapeutic potential for the treatment of overactive bladder [1].

David Goldstein, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of Actio Biosciences, commented, "We have made tremendous progress across our pipeline, executing a precision medicine strategy that targets the root causes of disease through genetically informed drug development. This new funding from industry-leading investors speaks to the value of our approach and provides us with important resources to continue advancing our programs" [1].

Actio Biosciences aims to leverage advances in precision medicine to develop new therapeutics that target shared genetics in both rare and common diseases. The company was founded in October 2021 and is guided by leaders in genetics and drug development, backed by top healthcare investors. For more information, please visit ActioBiosciences.com [1].

References:
[1] https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/actio-biosciences-secures-66-million-series-b-financing-to-advance-genetics-driven-pipeline-of-small-molecule-therapeutics-for-rare-and-common-diseases