The identification of new targets in diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s – conditions which continue to have significant unmet needs – has taken a small step forward as one company, Violet Therapeutics Inc., plans to put $10.6 million in seed funding toward building out a pipeline based on technologies that elucidate the way cells interact amongst one another.
With Aeon Biopharma Inc. listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on July 24, South Korea’s Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. is seeking new territory for its beleaguered botulinum toxin (BTX) product, Nabota (Jeuveau or ABP-450 in the U.S). Aeon’s move is expected help expand Nabota beyond aesthetic treatment to include medical conditions such as episodic migraines, cervical dystonia and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Pursuing tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), Turnstone Biologics Inc. raised about $80 million in an IPO, offering 6.7 million shares at $12 each. The firm is “pioneering a differentiated approach to TILs,” with next-generation products designed by choosing the most potent and tumor-reactive T cells, dubbed Selected TILs, according to SEC paperwork.
While med-tech financings in the second quarter (Q2) rose by 24% over the first quarter (Q1) – an historically low Q1 – the overall funding landscape in 2023 has struggled to keep up with other years, with IPOs in particular hitting rock bottom. A total of $5.8 billion was raised in Q2 through 128 transactions. Combined with Q1, the amount for the first half of 2023 is $10.5 billion through 255 transactions. This is an overall drop in value during the first six months of 31% compared with the same timeframe in 2022. It also is down from 2017 – the next lowest year – by 22%.