26 February 2020 - - US-based biopharmaceutical company Spruce Biosciences has raised USD 88m in series B financing co-led by Omega Funds and Abingworth and supported by existing investors Novo Holdings and RiverVest Venture Partners, as well as new investors HealthCap Partners, Rock Springs Capital, Surveyor Capital (a Citadel company), Aisling Capital and Sands Capital, the company said.

Spruce is developing therapeutics for rare endocrine diseases.

The proceeds will be used to further fund the clinical development of the company's lead product, tildacerfont, in classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia and other conditions.

Tildacerfont, a second generation CRF-1 receptor antagonist, is the first non-steroidal molecule to demonstrate an ability to normalize elevated androgens in patients with CAH in clinical studies.

With the closing of the financing, Spruce will evaluate the ability of tildacerfont to reduce glucocorticoid steroid usage and improve clinical outcomes in a late-stage clinical program in adults with CAH.

In addition, the company plans to complete proof-of-concept trials in the pediatric population.

Classic CAH is a rare genetic disorder affecting the ability of the adrenal glands to function properly. CAH results from a mutation in the gene that encodes the enzyme 21-hydroxylase, which is necessary for the synthesis of key adrenal hormones.

As a result, people with CAH have an impaired ability to produce the hormone, cortisol, which can result in life-threatening adrenal crises.

Cortisol is also known as "the stress hormone," and is critical for the body's response to stress, illness and injury.

In CAH, the adrenal glands often produce excessive levels of male sex hormones or androgens.

While both sexes need androgens for proper growth and development, an excess can cause problems that may include precocious puberty, short stature, hirsutism, increased risk of testicular adrenal rest tumors in men, and virilisation and menstrual dysfunction in women.

Although CAH testing is part of the newborn screening program, treatment options are limited. Glucocorticoids (such as hydrocortisone, prednisone and dexamethasone) are commonly used to treat CAH but are associated with a range of side effects, including weight gain, stunted growth in children, reduced bone mineral density, metabolic abnormalities and increased cardiovascular risk.

No new treatment options for CAH have been approved for the past several decades.

Spruce's investigational lead product candidate, tildacerfont (formerly SPR001) is a potent, highly selective, oral, small-molecule antagonist of the corticotropin-releasing factor type-1 receptor.

Preclinical studies have shown that through targeted delivery, tildacerfont binds to CRF1 receptors to block CRF-stimulated receptor function, thereby decreasing the production of excess androgens (androstenedione [A4]), progestins (17-hydroxyprogesterone [17-OHP]) and adrenocorticotropic hormone, the primary driver of adrenal gland enlargement.

This may allow physicians to reduce the chronic, high-dose steroids used to treat patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, potentially allowing physicians and patients improved control of CAH.

Spruce Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing novel therapies for rare endocrine disorders.

The company's lead product candidate, tildacerfont, is an investigational oral drug that is being evaluated in studies for the treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

The company also plans to evaluate tildacerfont in other diseases impacted by elevated ACTH or adrenal androgens.

Backed by investors including Omega Funds, Abingworth Bioventures, Novo Holdings, RiverVest Venture Partners, HealthCap Partners, Rock Springs Capital, Aisling Capital, Surveyor Capital (a Citadel company) and Sands Capital, Spruce is committed to bringing new treatment options to patients with unmet needs.

Founded in 2004, Omega Funds is a international investment firm that creates and invests in life sciences companies that target our world's most urgent medical needs.

Omega focuses on identifying and supporting companies through value inflection points across the full arc of innovation, from company formation through clinical milestones and commercial adoption.

Omega Funds' portfolio companies have brought 37 products to market in multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, rare diseases, precision medicine and others.

Abingworth is a leading transatlantic life sciences investment firm. We help transform cutting-edge science into novel medicines by providing capital and expertise to top caliber management teams and building world-class companies.

its therapeutic focused investments fall into 3 categories: seed and early-stage, development stage, and clinical co-development.

Abingworth supports its portfolio companies with a team of experienced professionals at offices in London, Menlo Park (California) and Boston.