A recently launched startup has publicly announced its emergence from a period of private development alongside the completion of a $62 million Series A funding round. Endeavor BioMedicines is headed by co-founder and Chief Executive Officer John Hood, formerly the leader of Impact Biomedicines, and this latest investment originates from Omega Funds and Longitude Capital, in addition to contributions from the company’s leadership. Miguel de los Rios, also a co-founder and serving as Chief Science Officer, previously held the CEO position at Rift Biotherapeutics.

The primary focus of Endeavor BioMedicines is the creation of therapies targeted at treating pulmonary diseases. The company will utilize the newly acquired funds to support two Phase 2 clinical trials designed to evaluate the potential of their lead therapeutic candidate to either halt or reverse the advancement of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). IPF represents a prevalent form of pulmonary fibrosis characterized by extensive tissue scarring within the lungs, leading to respiratory challenges for those affected.

IPF presents a concerning prognosis, with an average survival rate of 2 to 5 years following diagnosis, as stated by Hood in a recent press statement. Endeavor’s investigational treatment, known as “taladegib,” functions as an inhibitor targeting the “hedgehog” pathway in IPF. This pathway, crucial for cell development during embryogenesis, can contribute to the onset of detrimental conditions in adults when its regulation of mature tissue regeneration is disrupted.

Hood’s previous venture, Impact Biomedicines, was acquired by Celgene Corp in a deal potentially valued at up to $7 billion, contingent upon the achievement of predefined regulatory and commercial milestones. That company specialized in developing treatments for myelofibrosis, a form of blood cancer, utilizing an inhibitor that acts on a particular protein kinase.