Viamet Pharmaceuticals

Viamet Pharmaceuticals Holdings, LLC operated as a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, strategically focusing on the discovery and development of novel therapies by targeting metalloenzymes. Founded in 2004 by a team that included scientific founder Professor Thomas V. O'Halloran from Northwestern University, the company established its headquarters in Durham, North Carolina. The core of Viamet's approach was its proprietary Metalloisozyme Platform, which allowed for the selective inhibition of specific metalloenzymes, aiming to create treatments with improved safety and efficacy profiles compared to existing options.

The company's primary clinical efforts were concentrated on developing treatments for fungal infections. Its lead product candidate, VT-1161 (now known as oteseconazole), was an orally available inhibitor of fungal CYP51, an enzyme crucial for fungal cell membrane integrity. This agent was designed to offer a more potent and selective treatment for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC), a chronic and often debilitating condition, as well as onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the nails. Another notable candidate was VT-1598, which targeted Cryptococcus meningitis, a life-threatening fungal infection of the brain, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Beyond antifungal agents, Viamet leveraged its metalloenzyme expertise to explore treatments in other therapeutic areas, including oncology and orphan diseases.

Viamet's business model was centered on research and development, aiming to advance its drug candidates through clinical trials to demonstrate their value. The company's journey included significant financial milestones, such as raising $18 million in a Series C financing round in 2011 and securing a $20 million debt financing from Horizon Technology Finance in 2014 to support its clinical programs. The company's trajectory culminated in its acquisition by the public company Aralez Pharmaceuticals in October 2016 for an upfront payment of $60 million and subsequent milestone payments. This acquisition provided Aralez with Viamet's promising antifungal pipeline. Later, Mycovia Pharmaceuticals, a spin-off from NovaQuest Capital Management, acquired the rights to oteseconazole from Aralez Pharmaceuticals to continue its development and commercialization. Keywords: metalloenzyme inhibitors, antifungal therapies, biopharmaceutical, clinical-stage, drug discovery, recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis, oteseconazole, CYP51 inhibitor, onychomycosis, pharmaceutical acquisition