Inflazome raises €40M to get NLRP3 drug into humans

Inflazome has raised €40 million ($46 million). The Forbion-led series B tees up Inflazome to trial its NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors in several inflammatory diseases. Irish-British biotech Inflazome is working on a pipeline of small molecules designed to block signals that lead to unwanted inflammation. That focus has led the company to NLRP3, an innate immune signaling receptor involved in the assembly of inflammasome protein complexes. When working as intended, the process protects the body from pathogens. But if it goes off in the absence of threats, it triggers harmful inflammation implicated in a range of diseases. Inflazome wants to improve outcomes for patients with some of these conditions, which include Alzheimer’s, inflammatory bowel disease and gout, by inhibiting activation of NLRP3 and thereby stopping excessive inflammation.