Reproductive health startup raises $65M for infertility drugs
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ReproNovo, a biotechnology company specializing in reproductive medicine, has raised $65 million to advance two drugs it thinks could help address fertility issues in men and women.
The Switzerland-based firm plans to use the new funds to run Phase 2 clinical trials of the drugs. The first, called leflutrozole, is designed to treat infertility in men with low testosterone, while the second, nolasiban, will be studied in women with a gynecological disorder called adenomyosis and as an adjunctive therapy alongside assisted reproductive technologies.
'We are here to fill the critical gaps for patients in reproductive medicine and women's health,' Jean Maire Duvall, CEO and co-founder of ReproNovo, told BioPharma Dive.
Founded in 2021, ReproNovo gained rights to the candidates through licensing deals with Mereo BioPharma and ObsEva, respectively.
Leflutrozole is a small molecule that works by blocking an enzyme called aromatase. This effect, ReproNovo says, could help stabilize levels of testosterone and address male infertility. Some research has raised concerns about declines in male reproductive health, as fertility rates among women in the U.S. have also fallen.
Although infertility impacts both men and women, the pressure and responsibility for solving the issue often falls on the woman. 'We'd like to offer an alternative where the male could be treated directly,' said Duvall.
Nolasiban blocks oxytocin receptors, which ReproNovo sees as potentially helpful in managing adenomyosis, a condition where endometrial tissue grows in the uterine walls. Adenomyosis can cause similar symptoms as endometriosis, such as pelvic pain and heavy menstrual bleeding. The condition often occurs in women between the ages of 35 to 50. There are no drugs specifically approved to treat it.
ReproNovo is also studying whether nolasiban can improve embryo implantation by reducing uterine contractility and enhancing blood flow amid embryo transfer during in vitro fertilization. While other treatments are available and in development to increase the chances of IVF success, none are approved to support embryo implantation specifically, the company said.
The Series A funding round was led by Jeito Capital and co-led by AXA IM Alts and ReproNovo's founding investor M Ventures, the venture arm of Merck KGaA. Ysios Capital and Alsa Ventures also participated.
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