Holoclara

Holoclara is a biotechnology firm focused on developing a novel class of medicines derived from symbiotic organisms, specifically gut roundworms, to address allergic and autoimmune diseases. Founded in 2017 by physician-scientist Andrea Choe, M.D., Ph.D., along with Paul W. Sternberg, Ph.D., of Caltech, and Frank C. Schroeder, Ph.D., of Cornell University, the company is built on groundbreaking research into the therapeutic potential of molecules secreted by these organisms.

Dr. Choe's journey began during her medical training at USC, where she witnessed the unmet needs of patients with debilitating conditions like Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis. This inspired her doctoral research at Caltech, where she discovered that various worm species share a unique molecular language. Her findings revealed that these organisms secrete potent immunomodulatory compounds capable of blocking disease formation in animal models, which became the technological foundation for Holoclara.

The company's core business revolves around its proprietary discovery engine, which isolates and identifies therapeutically active molecules from worms. These molecules are then synthetically replicated to create safe, orally available small molecule drugs. This approach circumvents the need for live parasites while harnessing their evolved ability to modulate host immunity. Holoclara's business model involves advancing these patent-protected, chemistry-driven programs through clinical trials for FDA approval. The company targets patients with severe allergic and autoimmune diseases who have not found relief with existing treatments like steroids and biologics. Its initial focus is on Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE), a chronic inflammatory disorder, with plans to expand into other indications such as severe asthma, ulcerative colitis, and lupus.

In June 2024, Holoclara announced the completion of an oversubscribed $16 million Series A financing round led by BOLD Capital Partners, bringing its total funding to over $21 million. This capital is intended to advance its lead candidate, HC002, into clinical trials and further develop its discovery platform. The first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial for HC002 began in late 2024 to evaluate its safety and tolerability in healthy adults.

Keywords: immunotherapy, autoimmune disease therapy, worm-derived therapeutics, symbiont chemistry, Andrea Choe, immunomodulatory molecules, orally available drugs, biotechnology, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, Series A funding, drug discovery engine, nematode-derived molecules, Caltech, Cornell University, allergic disorders, small molecule drugs, preclinical data, clinical trials, inflammation, chronic disease