We’re excited to announce our investment in Arda Therapeutics*, a groundbreaking techbio company working to transform the treatment of chronic diseases through novel cell-depleting technology.
One of their initial areas of interest is fibrosis, the excessive formation of connective tissue in organs. Fibrosis is a hallmark of many chronic diseases. It affects millions globally and contributed to over 35% of worldwide deaths in 2019. Despite its prevalence, current treatments often fall short, offering limited efficacy and significant side effects.
Arda Therapeutics combines advanced computational methods with deep biological insights in an effort to address this challenge. Their strategy differs significantly from current treatments in two main ways:
- While existing therapies impact broad biological systems, potentially causing wide-ranging side effects, Arda’s method singles out specific cell populations implicated in disease progression.
- Arda uses computational methods to precisely identify the cells driving disease progression, then develops biologics to eliminate these pathogenic cells, rather than trying to modify their behavior through individual protein or pathway modulation.
This approach could lead to more effective treatments with fewer side effects and potentially longer-lasting results. For patients, this could mean therapies that are not only more effective but also better tolerated. The possibility of longer-lasting results could reduce the frequency of treatments, easing the burden of ongoing care. While still in development, Arda’s technology holds the promise of not just managing symptoms, but potentially altering the course of these debilitating diseases.
Arda’s Data Advantage
We believe Arda’s proprietary single-cell computational methods represent a significant advancement in drug discovery for non-oncology diseases. Traditionally, researchers have relied on categorizing cells in a diseased tissue into major cell types (epithelial, endothelial, mesenchymal, etc) because the technology for higher-resolution analysis did not exist.. However, this approach can miss critical differences between cell states – subsets of cell types with distinct characteristics and functions.
Arda’s platform analyzes vast amounts of single-cell data from diverse patient groups, enabling the identification of pathogenic cell states with high precision. This method recognizes cells strongly associated with the disease, even when they’re not the most abundant, allowing for a more precise understanding of disease mechanisms at the cellular level.
Capitalizing on ADC Technology Momentum
One of Arda’s primary therapeutic modalities is Antibody-Drug Conjugates, a modality that has seen tremendous advances in recent years. Arda is capitalizing on this momentum, adapting ADC technology—traditionally used in oncology—to address fibrotic diseases. This strategic timing aligns with a broader industry trend, as ADCs gain traction as a leading technology in drug development.
The company’s lead program focuses on Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a devastating lung disease with limited treatment options. Leveraging their computational methods, Arda has identified specific cellular targets in IPF that are responsible for the deposition of tissue-destroying extracellular matrix. By removing these cells, Arda’s therapy may prevent disease progression.
From Fibrosis to Broader Precision Medicine
While Arda’s initial focus is on fibrotic diseases, their vision extends far beyond. The company aims to leverage its technology platform to address a wide spectrum of chronic diseases by precisely identifying and eliminating pathogenic cell populations. This ambitious goal is driven by an exceptional team that brings together extensive expertise in life sciences research, drug development, and computational biology.
Led by Adam Freund, Ph.D., Founder and CEO, Arda’s leadership includes Scott Turner, Ph.D., as Chief Scientific Officer, and Rémi Laberge, Ph.D., as Founder and Chief Technology Officer. Their collective experience spans decades, with Adam’s 19-year background including over 20 publications, numerous patents, and more than 9,000 citations. Scott brings over two decades of experience in anti-fibrotic therapy development, while Rémi contributes deep expertise in pathogenic cell depletion strategies.
We believe the combination of technology and seasoned leadership positions Arda to potentially revolutionize treatment paradigms across multiple disease areas. By shifting the focus from pathway inhibition to precise cellular targeting, Arda is working towards a new era in cell-depleting technologies, offering hope for conditions that have long eluded effective therapies.
We couldn’t be more excited to support the entire Arda Therapeutics team as they work to transform the landscape of chronic disease treatment!
