London, UK – 22 August 2023 Actimed Therapeutics Ltd (“Actimed”), a UK based clinical stage specialty pharmaceutical company focused on bringing innovation to the treatment of cancer cachexia and other muscle wasting disorders, today announces it has raised a further £4.75m in an extension to its recent Series A financing round which was completed in June this year. 

The extension of the Series A round follows strong interest from the company’s existing major investors, including Mankind Pharma. This brings total proceeds from the round to £9.75m, providing the company with a cash runway through 2024. These proceeds will be used to fund the continued development of the Company and will ensure that preparations remain on track for the global Phase 2b/3 IMPACT clinical development programme evaluating its lead asset, S-pindolol benzoate in treating cachexia associated with non-small cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer. 

Despite advances in the treatment of cancer itself, cancer cachexia is a major global health challenge and a significant unmet medical need. A recent meta-analysis demonstrated that cachexia was associated with an 82% higher relative risk of mortality in patients with NSCLC versus no cachexia¹.  S-pindolol has demonstrated promising results in an exploratory Phase 2a, proof of concept trial, the ACT-ONE trial^2, and Actimed has successfully completed a Phase 1 pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) study with S-pindolol benzoate that met all pre-defined objectives. Actimed aims to dose the first patient in the IMPACT Phase 2b/3 clinical programme in 2024.

Robin Bhattacherjee, Chief Executive Officer of Actimed Therapeutics commented “In this challenging financing environment, we are very pleased with the desire and willingness of our shareholders to support the company’s continued progress with this additional funding committed as an extension of our recently over-subscribed Series A round. Our resulting strong financial runway will allow us to complete the important preparations for our planned Phase 2b/3 IMPACT programme in cancer cachexia which we plan to initiate in the first half of next year. If successful, this could provide the pathway to the first globally approved product to treat this highly prevalent condition, for which there remains a huge unmet need”. 

Earlier this year, Actimed commenced the preparations to formally launch a Series B financing round which is designed to fund the IMPACT clinical programme to completion. WG Partners, a London-based Life Sciences specialist advisory firm, is assisting Actimed in the Series B financing which is now well advanced.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

MEDiSTRAVA Consulting
Frazer Hall, Evelyn McCormack
Tel: +44 (0)203 928 6900
Email: actimed@medistrava.com

WG Partners LLP
Nigel Barnes, Satheesh Nadarajah, Robin Stürken
Tel: +44 (0) 203 705 9330
Email: olga@wgpartners.co.uk

¹Bonomi P. et al. The mortality burden of cachexia in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer: A meta-analysis; International Conference of Sarcopenia, Cachexia and Wasting Disorders, June 17 – 18 2023, Stockholm, abstract 2-18, page 139
²A Coats et al Espindolol for treatment and prevention of cachexia: the ACT-ONE trial. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2016; 7: 355–365