Leveraging assets from Denali, new biotech targets inflammation, metabolic and lysosomal dysfunction with small molecule drugs.
Backed with a whopping $200 million in funding, US biotech Tenvie Therapeutics has launched to advance new treatments for neurological, cardiometabolic and ophthalmic diseases. Based in South San Francisco, the company has acquired small-molecule programs and its discovery team from Denali Therapeutics as it seeks to develop therapies that resolve inflammation, rescue metabolic dysfunction, and restore lysosomal function.
Longevity watchers will be interested by Tenvie’s focus on three key drivers of age-related diseases. Inflammation and metabolic dysfunction are both closely linked to the aging process, while lysosomal dysfunction is implicated in several aging-related neurodegenerative diseases including both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Tenvie says its dual-focus approach distinguishes between highly brain-penetrant molecules for central nervous system (CNS) diseases and precision-designed peripherally restricted molecules for conditions outside the brain. The company’s lead programs include an NLRP3 inhibitor addressing neuroinflammation and an allosteric SARM1 inhibitor combating axonal degeneration, both of which are in the IND-enabling stage.
Additionally, Tenvie’s pipeline includes preclinical candidates targeting neuroprotective pathways such as TRPML1 and TMEM175, as well as undisclosed programs addressing cardiometabolic and ophthalmic diseases.
The link with Denali reportedly provides Tenvie with preclinical assets, an experienced discovery team, and even a subleased facility in South San Francisco. Tony Estrada, President and Chief Scientific Officer, previously led Denali’s Therapeutic Discovery organization and now spearheads Tenvie’s scientific direction.
“Tenvie was founded to fundamentally alter the treatment paradigm for neurological diseases and profoundly impact the lives of patients, their families, and caregivers,” said Estrada. “Our team’s validated approach uniquely allows us to access the brain while enabling the parallel development of precision-designed peripherally-restricted small molecules to address a broad array of diseases.”
The funding round was led by ARCH Venture Partners, F-Prime Capital, and Mubadala Capital, with participation from other investors.
“Tenvie was purpose-built to apply deep biological and chemical insights to address critical disease pathways,” said ARCH’s Paul L. Berns.
“There remains an urgent need for neurological treatments that provide durable therapeutic benefit and fill the gaps in care for diseases with limited or no effective therapies,” said F-Prime’s Stacie Weninger. “Led by CNS drug developers with proven track records in advancing molecules from discovery to clinical validation, Tenvie is set to lead the next generation of neurology treatments.”
