Halia Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering a novel class of small molecule medications designed to combat inflammation, has completed a $30 million Series C financing led by Todd Pedersen, with continued participation from existing investors.

Advancing HT-8184

Proceeds from the financing will be used to support the advancement of Halia’s lead asset, HT-6184, a selective and orally bioavailable first-in-class inhibitor of NLRP3/NEK7 inflammasome in Phase II clinical trials. Halia Therapeutics recently initiated a Phase IIa trial in India to treat patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS), a group of cancers in which the bone marrow produces underdeveloped cells that are abnormal in size, shape, or appearance and are therefore “dysplastic.”
 
The company also plans to evaluate HT-6184 in Phase II trials in the U.S. for the treatment of post-procedure inflammatory pain response, as well as begin a Phase I trial in Alzheimer’s patients.
 
Funding will also support IND-enabling studies for Halia’s alternative programs that are developing Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) inhibitors to treat neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, in addition to building out clinical and regulatory teams further to support the global development of the company’s pipeline.
 
“We are grateful for the trust investors have in our therapeutic approach. Their confidence is the driving force behind our efforts in developing innovative therapies targeting chronic inflammation,” said Dr. David Bearss, CEO of Halia Therapeutics. “This financing will help us to advance significantly our lead drug candidate, HT-6184, in ongoing global Phase II trials and will support the trajectory of our additional programs targeting neuroinflammation into the clinic, bringing us even closer to breakthrough treatments for inflammatory-related diseases.”
 
“We believe that Halia’s unique approach of targeting the NLP3 inflammasome holds significant potential for addressing a wide range of inflammatory diseases, along with hematologic conditions and other malignancies,” said Todd Pedersen. “The company’s expertise and patient-focused mindset will be invaluable for advancing these anti-inflammatory therapeutics and revolutionizing the approach for targeting chronic inflammation in patients.”

More from Halia Therapeutics

In November, Halia Therapeutics appointed Lisa Shamon as vice president regulatory affairs and Xianne Penny as senior medical director.
 
Also, last year, Halia Therapeutics opened its new 20,000 sq.-ft. headquarters in Lehi, UT.