Funding Secured: $14 Million for Pahr Therapeutics to Develop Treatments for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
In a notable development, Pahr Therapeutics, a clinical-stage company, is gearing up to initiate early-stage clinical studies for therapies targeting pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The company, which originated from RA Capital's incubator, Raven, recently secured $14 million in seed financing to advance its clinical programs focused on novel mechanisms for PAH treatment.
The funding round was led by RA Capital Management, AN Venture Partners, and the University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners (UTEC). This significant investment will support Pahr Therapeutics in moving its programs into clinical study phases, with initial trials expected to begin in 2026.
Pahr Therapeutics' work centres on new therapeutic approaches for PAH, an area of high unmet medical need given the severity and complexity of the disease. The company's co-founders, Drs. Yoshikazu Nakaoka, Makoto Okazawa, and Ryotaro Asano, are at the forefront of this research, having made significant contributions to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of PAH.
Dr. Nakaoka, who also directs the Vascular Physiology department at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center (NCVC) in Osaka, expressed his excitement about working with RA Capital Management, AN Venture Partners, and UTEC to develop these novel therapies. He also expressed his gratitude for the global investors' support, which he finds inspiring for the company.
In addition to Dr. Nakaoka, Pahr Therapeutics' board of directors includes Andrew Levin, MD/PhD, a partner at RA Capital, and Atsushi Usami, PhD, a partner and board director at UTEC. Ken Horne, the Managing Partner at AN Venture Partners, is also a member of the board.
As of now, there are no detailed, publicly available trial registries or listings specific to Pahr’s individual clinical studies. However, the company is positioning itself to conduct trials soon. In the broader pulmonary hypertension clinical trial landscape, trials of other novel agents such as macitentan and PF-07868489 are ongoing or recently completed, mainly in Phase 2/3 settings, primarily at major centres like UCSF.
Neil Buckley leads Pahr Therapeutics as it moves towards its clinical trials. The company is focused on developing therapies for PAH patients, aiming to make a significant impact in the treatment of this challenging disease.
- The investment from RA Capital Management, AN Venture Partners, and the University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners (UTEC) in Pahr Therapeutics will not only support the company in moving its programs into clinical study phases but also contribute to the advancement of health-and-wellness, particularly in addressing the high unmet medical need for therapies targeting pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
- In the realm of science and finance, Pahr Therapeutics is dedicated to investing in research and development, as they strive to create innovative medical-conditions treatments for PAH, thereby playing a pivotal role in the health-and-wellness sector.
- Neil Buckley, the leader of Pahr Therapeutics, is actively seeking partnerships with major centres like UCSF in the business world, aiming to ensure that the company's clinical trials are conducted promptly and that new therapies can eventually contribute to the overall success of the investing community in addressing PAH.
