[Funding alert] NJ-based Claris Bio Secures $57M in Funding

NJ-based Claris Bio secures $57M in funding from Series A investors Novo Holdings A/S, RA Capital and Mass General Brigham Ventures and recent investor, Janus Henderson Investors.

Claris, initially funded in 2020, is developing recombinant human variant hepatocyte growth factor, dHGF, to accelerate and improve the quality of corneal healing in patients with corneal eye disease.

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Its lead program, CSB-001 Ophthalmic Solution 0.1% (oremepermin-α), brings a topical ocular biologic solution of dHGF, a molecule with the potential to restore structural and functional corneal integrity, to eyes with neurotrophic keratopathy (NK).

Oremepermin-α is epitheliotropic, neurotrophic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic, suggesting it could be an efficacious and safe option to treat many current unmet needs in diseases of the cornea. Claris expects to complete enrollment in its late-stage multi-center, randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled, parallel-group study, with a data readout expected in 1H2024.

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Beyond NK, Claris’ strategy is to create a pipeline by developing oremepermin-α across multiple ophthalmic diseases, greatly expanding the patient population that can benefit from its activity.

Claris Bio Founding CEO Clarke Atwell said, “Our vision is to lead the way in corneal therapy by developing oremepermin-α into a pipeline that addresses the high unmet need in corneal disease. We are honored to have such a strong group of investors, as we approach a pivotal inflection point in our company’s growth, Topical oremepermin-α therapy has the potential to significantly impact several significant conditions of the cornea, with the potential to improve patients’ lives.“

In addition to Mr. Atwell, the Claris leadership team includes CMO Susan Orr, OD, and Chief Business Officer Henry Rath. Scientific cofounders include Dr. Reza Dana, MD, MSc, MPH, and Dr. Sunil Chauhan, DVM, PhD., both from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear and the Harvard Medical School Department of Ophthalmology.

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Agustin Mohedas, Ph.D., Portfolio Manager, Janus Henderson Investors said, “Claris Bio is developing what has the potential to be the new standard of care for numerous corneal diseases, We are excited to be part of the next chapter in the company’s growth.”

About Claris Bio

Claris Bio, based in Jersey City, NJ, was founded by a group of experienced biopharma industry executives and experts in ophthalmology.

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The company’s foundational intellectual property is based on work done at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary by Dr. Reza Dana, MD, MSc, MPH, Claes Dohlman Chair in Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School and Senior Scientist and Director of Cornea at Mass Eye and Ear and Dr. Sunil Chauhan, DVM, PhD, Principal Investigator and Associate Professor, Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School.