XyloCor Therapeutics, a clinical-stage company developing a gene therapy for a form of heart disease, has raised $22.6 million to expand the clinical trial plans for its lead program.
The lead therapeutic candidate from the Philadelphia-based startup is XC001, a gene therapy currently in Phase 1/2 clinical trial for patients with refractory angina. Angina is chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. In refractory angina, the condition cannot be controlled by medical or surgical interventions.
According to XyloCor, its gene therapy uses an engineered adenovirus to deliver to cells the genetic instructions for producing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a signaling protein that promotes the growth of new blood vessels. The therapy is intended to get cells to produce additional copies of VEGF, which in turn stimulates the formation of new coronary blood vessels serving parts of the heart receiving inadequate blood supply. The gene therapy is administered directly into the heart muscle by a cardiac surgeon. XyloCor explains XC001’s approach in this company video:
XyloCor’s Phase 1/2 study in refractory angina is enrolling about 12 patients in four dose-ascending groups. That part of the clinical trial will be followed by an expansion phase with about 21 additional patients who will be evaluated with the highest tolerated dose from the earlier portion of the clinical trial.
XyloCor said that new capital will enable the company to expand the clinical trial program, adding a new study testing XC001 as an additional treatment for those undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). In some cases, this procedure of grafting an artery or vein to bypass a blocked coronary artery may not completely restore blood flow to the heart. XyloCor said its gene therapy may reduce those incidents.
The new financing announced Monday was led by Fountain Healthcare Partners, which was joined by new investors Longwood Fund and Lumira Ventures. The capital supplements XyloCor’s 2018 Series A round of funding, which was led by Sofinnova Ventures and Life Sciences Partners. Those investors and other participants in that round also joined in the extension to the Series A round, bringing the company’s financing total to $41.9 million to date.
XyloCor has a second program in its pipeline. XC002 is a preclinical gene therapy intended to regenerate cardiac tissue in patients whose previous heart attacks and subsequent heart failure have left them with poorly functioning hearts. In animal tests, the company said that XC002 has transformed non-functioning heart cells into functioning ones.
Photo: BrianAJackson, Getty Images
