Matisse raises €14M for Phase 2 sepsis trial
Dutch biotech Matisse Pharmaceuticals has raised €14 million in a Series A financing to advance isupartob sodium through Phase 2 development in sepsis.
Why it matters: Sepsis remains a major unmet need in critical care, with no approved treatment specifically targeting the dysregulated immune response that can lead to organ failure. Matisse is developing isupartob to intervene in that process by neutralizing extracellular histones.
Zoom in: The financing included existing and new shareholders, with participation from institutional investors Brightlands Venture Partners and LIOF, as well as private investors and Matisse management.
How it works: During sepsis, histones — proteins normally involved in packaging DNA inside cells — can be released into the bloodstream. Extracellular histones can damage cell membranes and contribute to inflammation, endothelial injury and organ failure.
- Isupartob is designed to bind to and neutralize these circulating histones, aiming to interrupt this damaging cascade.
What’s next: The company said most of the proceeds will fund its Phase 2 trial, alongside regulatory, manufacturing and operational work. The study is expected to assess the safety, tolerability and clinical activity of isupartob in patients with sepsis and inform the drug’s subsequent development.
What they’re saying: “Their support enables us to focus on what matters most: Successfully completing our Phase 2 clinical trial in sepsis patients and generating the clinical data needed to unlock the next stage of the company’s development,” CEO Marcel Jacobs said.
