Selva Therapeutics
Biotechnology company dedicated to the development of therapeutics for infectious diseases.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | investor | €0.0 | round |
| N/A | $3.0m | Series A | |
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
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Selva Therapeutics, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology firm established in 2017, focusing on the development of treatments for infectious diseases. The San Diego-based company was co-founded by Ted Daley, who serves as CEO, and Felix Frueh, PhD, the Chief Scientific Officer. Daley is a seasoned entrepreneur who previously founded Convivia, Inc. and was President and Chief Business Officer at Raptor Pharmaceuticals. Frueh brings extensive experience from his roles as CSO at Human Longevity, Inc., President of the Medco Research Institute, and the first Associate Director for Genomics at the FDA.
The company's core business revolves around its lead drug candidate, SLV213, an orally available small molecule antiviral. This therapeutic is designed to address a wide array of viruses that pose a threat to global health. The company's business model is centered on advancing SLV213 through clinical trials to gain regulatory approval and commercialization. It has secured funding through a Series A round in July 2020, raising $3 million from private investors to advance clinical trials.
SLV213's distinct mechanism of action involves inhibiting a host cell enzyme, cathepsin L, which is a cysteine protease that many viruses use to enter and infect human cells. By targeting a host protein rather than a viral one, SLV213 is less susceptible to viral mutations, a significant advantage in treating rapidly evolving viruses. Preclinical studies have demonstrated its effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 (including variants like Omicron, Delta, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma), Ebola, Nipah, and Marburg viruses. The therapy has also completed preclinical development as a potential treatment for the parasitic Chagas disease. In November 2020, Selva Therapeutics received FDA clearance for an Investigational New Drug (IND) application and initiated a Phase 1 clinical study for SLV213 as a treatment for COVID-19. The Phase 1 trial successfully demonstrated the drug's safety and tolerability, and it is now ready for Phase 2 trials for outpatient treatment.
Keywords: infectious disease therapeutics, antiviral drug development, host-targeted antiviral, SLV213, cathepsin L inhibitor, oral small molecule, COVID-19 treatment, Chagas disease, broad-spectrum antiviral, clinical-stage biotech