F2G Announces $100 Million Financing to Advance Late-Stage Development and Commercialization of Novel Antifungal Drug Candidate Olorofim in the US
September 12 2024 - 7:00AM
F2G Ltd, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the
discovery and development of novel therapies to treat
life-threatening rare fungal infections with a high unmet medical
need, today announced a $100 million financing round. The financing
is being led by new investor AMR Action Fund and co-led by ICG,
with strong participation from existing investors Novo Holdings,
Advent Life Sciences, Sofinnova Partners, Forbion, Blue Owl
Healthcare Opportunities, Morningside Ventures, Brace
Pharmaceuticals, and Merifin Capital. The proceeds from the
financing will enable F2G to complete late-stage development, seek
regulatory approval, and prepare for commercialization in the US of
olorofim, a novel oral antifungal therapy to treat invasive
aspergillosis (IA) and other invasive fungal infections. Henry
Skinner, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of AMR Action Fund and Toby
Sykes Ph.D., Managing Director of ICG Life Sciences, will join the
F2G Board of Directors. The financing is subject to customary
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) clearance by local authorities in
Austria, where F2G has a 100%-owned subsidiary, and expected to
close in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Olorofim is the first orotomide antifungal, an entirely novel
class of antifungal agents and is the only antifungal medication to
be awarded a Breakthrough Therapy Designation for multiple
indications by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Olorofim
works through a novel mechanism of action, different from existing
classes of antifungals, exerting fungicidal activity through
inhibition of the pyrimidine synthesis pathway. It is anticipated
to be used to treat patients with a serious invasive, rare fungal
disease where existing treatments are inappropriate or no longer
effective.
Francesco Maria Lavino, Chief Executive Officer of F2G,
said: “We are delighted to attract this additional
capital investment into F2G, and we are thrilled to be working with
the AMR Action Fund, an important player in the antimicrobial
space, and ICG, a leading alternative asset manager. The addition
of Dr. Skinner and Dr. Sykes to our Board will be invaluable as we
move to our next stage of growth. This is a pivotal period for the
Company as we conclude the final stages of development and
preparation for commercialization of olorofim in the US and
elsewhere. If approved, olorofim is expected to be the first of a
new class of antifungal agents with a novel, differentiated
mechanism of action and will address genuine unmet needs in
conditions with high morbidity and mortality.”
Dr. Skinner commented: “Fungal infections are a
growing threat to patients around the world and have a
disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, yet there has
been a paucity of innovation in the field of antifungals. For
decades, clinicians have relied on a handful of antifungal classes,
with few mechanisms of action and significant limitations due to
spectrum of activity, drug toxicities, or drug-drug interactions.
These therapies are increasingly failing in patients. We are
thrilled to support F2G’s team as they develop this urgently needed
therapy and seek regulatory approval.”
Dr. Sykes commented: “Fungal pathogens continue
to emerge and spread. This evolving threat underscores an urgent
unmet medical need for advanced antifungal treatments. By investing
in the development of novel antifungal drug candidates like
olorofim, we hope to address this critical gap, ultimately making a
meaningful and sustainable social impact on patients, their
caregivers, and healthcare systems.”
About F2G
F2G is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with
operations in the UK, US, and Austria focused on the
discovery and development of novel therapies to treat potentially
life-threatening invasive fungal infections. F2G has discovered and
developed a completely new class of antifungal agents called the
orotomides which selectively target a key enzyme in the de novo
pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway. This is a completely different
mechanism from that of the currently marketed antifungal agents and
gives the orotomides fungicidal activity against a broad range of
rare and resistant fungal mold infections. For more information,
please visit: www.f2g.com
About olorofim
Olorofim (formerly, F901318) is F2G's leading candidate from the
orotomide class and is currently in a Phase 2b open-label
study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03583164) in patients who
have limited treatment options for difficult-to-treat invasive,
rare fungal mold infections such as azole-resistant aspergillosis,
scedosporiosis, lomentosporiosis, and other rare mold infections.
F2G has initiated a global Phase 3 trial ("OASIS") to compare
treatment with olorofim versus liposomal amphotericin B followed by
standard of care (SOC) in patients with invasive fungal disease
caused by proven Invasive Aspergillus or probable lower respiratory
tract disease by Aspergillus species. Olorofim has received orphan
drug status from the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of
invasive aspergillosis and invasive scedosporiosis. Olorofim has
also received orphan drug status from the FDA for the treatment of
coccidioidomycosis, scedosporiosis, and invasive aspergillosis.
Olorofim has been granted Qualified Infectious Disease Product
(QIDP) designation for invasive aspergillosis, invasive
scedosporiosis, invasive lomentosporiosis, coccidioidomycosis,
invasive disease due to Scopulariopsis species, and invasive
fusariosis.
About invasive aspergillosis
Aspergillosis is a fungal infection caused by Aspergillus
species of mold which are commonly found all over the world. Most
of these molds, in most people, do not cause disease. However,
Aspergillus is transmitted to humans through inhalation and may
cause a broad spectrum of disease ranging from hypersensitivity
reactions to direct invasion and destruction of tissue, especially
in immunocompromised hosts. Invasive aspergillosis is a rare
disease that can occur in over 10% of some high-risk
immunosuppressed populations with mortality exceeding 80%.
Media ContactKristin Politi, Ph.D.LifeSci
Communicationskpoliti@lifescicomms.com 646-876-4783