Vedana Therapeutics, a Seattle-based startup that aims to prevent migraine attacks, emerged on Wednesday with a stealth $46 million and a team of leaders in the treatment of migraine on the edge.
The new funding will allow the company to develop antibody drugs that target signaling pathways associated with migraines – which selected patients can eventually administer by injection at home.
Vedana’s mission is to become a direct migraine treatment company – and its line of leaders, board members and advisors have played a key role in this field, helping to develop antibody therapies against two types of proteins: calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRP) and a new target called pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (CAPP).
“First-generation CGRP therapies were a major step forward in the treatment of migraine, but many patients are still under-controlled,” said Anurag Agarwal, Vedana’s founder and CEO, in a statement.
Although CGRP drugs represent the first specialized migraine medications, about two-thirds of patients still suffer from this condition. Migraine attacks may cause a flurry of symptoms that occur during the day, which may include nausea, sensitivity to light and sleep disturbances; bright lights or a slight loss of vision; moderate to severe headache; and fatigue and brain fog.
Vedana’s lead drug candidate is the next generation of PACAP, and targets both PACAP and CGRP.
The building has 14 employees. Its leadership includes:
- Agarwal previously worked as an investor at Osage University Partners, helping to conduct academic research.
- Leon Garcia, founder and chief scientific officer, previously oversaw the discovery and development of both CGRP and PACAP antibodies at Alder Biopharmaceuticals, a Seattle company that Lundbeck acquired seven years ago for $1.95 billion.
- Dr. Ernesto Aycardi, chief medical officer, previously led the clinical development of the migraine drug AJOVY at Teva.
- Dr. Rob Lenz, executive chairman of Vedana’s board of directors, is the former head of global development at Amgen, where he led the development of the competitive migraine treatment Aimovig.
Major biotech companies marketing approved CGRP antibody therapies include Amgen, Eli Lilly, Teva and Lundbeck. In the PACAP space, Vedana faces competition from Lundbeck, Mentari Therapeutics and Slate Medicines.
Vedana’s Series A round was co-led by Westlake BioPartners and Canaan Partners, with participation from Dawn Biopharma and Alexandria Venture Investments.
