Pretzel Therapeutics secures funding from The Mito Fund for their projects
Pretzel Therapeutics, a Massachusetts-based company with research facilities in Mölndal, Sweden, has received an investment from The Mito Fund, the venture philanthropy arm of the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (UMDF). This investment validates the promise of Pretzel's scientific approach and supports the development of PX578, the lead therapeutic in Pretzel's energetics restoration franchise.
PX578 is in clinical development for improving fatigue, muscle weakness, and symptoms in people with m.3243A>G Primary Mitochondrial Disease, including classic MELAS, MIDD, and Multi-system Phenotypes. This strategy shows promise for treating POLG disorders and other severe conditions linked to mtDNA depletion.
POLG-related mitochondrial diseases affect multiple organs and are one of the most common inherited mitochondrial disorders, impacting about 1 in 10,000 patients. Currently, there is no FDA-approved therapy for these diseases. Dr. Philip Yeske, UMDF's Science and Alliance Officer, expressed optimism about PX578, stating that an approval would meet a huge unmet need in the mitochondrial disease community.
The Mito Fund conducts a thorough review process for investments, overseen by a committee of experts in mitochondrial disease and pharmaceutical development. Gabriel Martinez, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder of Pretzel Therapeutics, expressed gratitude for the investment from The Mito Fund.
PX578 aims to restore function to mutant mitochondrial DNA polymerases, enabling for the repopulation of depleted mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The collective disease types targeted by PX578 represent some of the most common and relentlessly progressive forms of mitochondrial disease.
Khondrion, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing therapies for primary mitochondrial disease, is also working on a lead asset, sonlicromanol, for improving symptoms in people with m.3243A>G Primary Mitochondrial Disease.
The Mito Fund seeks to advance the development of treatments for mitochondrial diseases, providing financial support while leveraging UMDF's expertise to minimize risks for investors and researchers. Napigen Therapeutics, another company in The Mito Fund portfolio, aims to harness the potential of mitochondria to impact human healthcare with its unique organelle genome editing tools.
Pretzel Therapeutics' commitment to partnering with patient advocacy groups like UMDF is seen as a critical component for advancing POLG-related research and potentially getting an approved therapy. The lead program, PX578, recently entered Phase 1 clinical development in the U.S. The search results do not provide information about the founder or current leading employee of Pretzel Therapeutics.
