SciRhom targets autoimmunity switch

Backed by a €7m seed financing from the High-Tech Gruenderfonds (HTGF), HSS and private investors, SciRhom targets iRhom2, a regulator of  tumor necrosis factor-alpha-convertase (TACE or ADAM17). ADAM17 shuts down several pro-inflammatory pathways simultaneously including TNF alpha mediated inflammation without showing the severe side effects that are associated with TACE-deficiency or inhibition.

Preclinical proof-of-principle studies conducted in the lab of SciRhom co-founder Professor Dr. Carl Blobel at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York, USA, provided that iRhom2 knock-out mice were protected from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and glomerulonephritis caused by systemic lupus erythematosus.

Subsequently, SciRhom identified iRhom2-specific antibodies that block TNF-alpha release by TACE and is currently advancing the preclinical development of its first-in-class anti-iRhom2 antibodies towards IND-enabling studies. SciRhom’s management team consists of Dr. Jens Ruhe, co-founder and former Director R&D at U3 Pharma/Daiichi Sankyo and Dr. Matthias Schneider, ex-preclinical Head of the Patritumab lead program at U3 Pharma/Daiichi Sankyo. Besides Professor Blobel co-founders of SciRhom include this year's Lasker Awardee Professor and serial entrepreneur Dr. Axel Ullrich, Dr. Andreas Jenne, another serial biotech entrepreneur, and HSS.

SciRhom, however, is not alone in the field of iRhom2 blockers. Last week, a group headed by Philipp A. Lang at University Düsseldorf reported in Science Signaling that market-approved iRhom2 blockers such as etanercept (Enbrel) protected mice against liver fibrosis pointing to Enbrel repurposing.