Amplio Pharma closes first qualified investment round with LEH | AUMC-VH consortium.
Amsterdam-based start-up Amplio Pharma B.V. has successfully closed a Seed Investment round to execute a proof-of-principle clinical trial of its candidate drug product NovoBioJect in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. NovoBioJect has the potential to significantly improve the global pharmaceutical care of patients with autoimmune diseases. In this novel drug product, the PK enhancer novobiocin is added with the objective to lead to a faster onset of disease remission in a larger patient population. A successful NovoBioJect not only translates into a decreased disease burden. It also comes with the potential to save billions of euro’s on an annual basis, supporting a more sustainable healthcare system throughout.
The investment consortium includes lead investor Libertatis Ergo Holding (LEH) with Amsterdam UMC Ventures Holding (AUMC-VH) and a recently secured convertible loan from Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland, together with US based angels.
Amplio Pharma CEO Marguerite Mensonides stated
”​We believe that our close collaborations with key partners within the Dutch ecosystem have been key in securing these funds. We are beyond excited by the opportunity of securing the first in-human proof-of-principle results in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in 2025."
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LEH managing director Rob Mayfield stated: “We are very pleased to be joined by Amsterdam UMC Ventures Holding and Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland in this exciting development. Amplio Pharma is leveraging expertise across the Netherlands and USA to bring this innovative drug product to patients in need.”
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AUMC-VH managing director Rudi Rust stated “Amplio Pharma’s approach — boosting the effectiveness of methotrexate with a well-understood compound like novobiocin — offers great potential to improve patient outcomes, while reducing healthcare costs. We’re excited to join LEH and the Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland in this Seed financing round to support such a promising innovation.”
The proof-of-principle trial with NovoBioJect is scheduled to include its first patient in Q4 2025. This study is being developed and executed in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Robert de Jonge (Laboratory Medicine Amsterdam UMC) and Dr. Maja Bulatovic (Clinical Pharmacologist Utrecht UMC). The study will be performed at the CHDR in Leiden. The production of the investigational medical product is taken on by the Academic Pharma Group at the LUMC.
For more information about the development programme of NovoBioJect, reach out to: info@amplio-pharma.com
Amplio Pharma: validated medicine, amplified.
About Amplio Pharma B.V.
Amplio Pharma was started in 2020 in Lund, Sweden, by serial entrepreneurs and industry veterans Marguerite Mensonides, Karin von Wachenfeldt and Charlott Brunmark, each with +20 years' experience in developing and marketing pharmaceuticals. In May 2023, Amplio Pharma B.V. was founded and development activities for NovoBioJect transferred to the Netherlands. Since 2024, the managment team has been expanded with Curtis Sprouse as Non-Executive Director, strengthenen the team with his USA serial entrepreneureal perspectives. The objective of Amplio Pharma is sustainable drug development, with a clear focus on developing improved versions of already great drugs. (www.amplio-pharma.com)
About Libertatis Ergo Holding (LEH)
LEH is an independent, seed investor in life science and health companies, which creates, supports and invests in startup and spinout companies connected to the activities of Leiden University, many of which are located on the Leiden Bio Science Park. (www.libertatisergo.com).
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About Amsterdam UMC Ventures Holding (AUMC-VH)
Amsterdam UMC Ventures Holding is a subsidiary of the Amsterdam University Medical Centre that builds, that supports and funds science-based start-up companies that create impact with knowledge from Amsterdam UMC research (www.amsterdamumcventures.nl).
About Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland
Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland is a fund with a focus on startups and SMEs that are located in the province of Noord-Holland in the Netherlands. The fund extends convertible loans to companies to help provide proof-of-concept of their innovative product idease (www.innovatiefondsnoordholland.nl).
About Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases (IMIDs)
IMIDs are a group of chronic diseases with systemic inflammation and multiorgan involvement, including: rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), psoriasis (Pso), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (including the subtypes Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis), uveitis, sarcoidosis, atopic dermatitis (AD), connective tissue disorders, asthma, and some neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). These diseases affect 5-7% of the general Western society. IMIDs are chronic and progressive diseases and, notwithstanding, different clinical manifestations, cause debilitating pain and fatigue, skin manifestations and multiorgan dysfunction starkly reducing both the patient’s quality of life and lifespan. The chronic disabling conditions that IMIDs impose when left (under)treated, result in job loss or early retirements, adding to socioeconomic impact of these diseases.
About Methotrexate
Low dose methotrexate (MTX) is the cornerstone in the treatment of IMIDs like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other forms of inflammatory arthritis. It has proven to be a very safe treatment that can be used chronically either alone or in combination with a range of other pharmaceuticals. In about a third of the patients, MTX treatment results in disease remission. However, a majority of the patients need to take additional drug products on top of their MTX due to insufficient efficacy, resulting in an increased disease burden and/or higher societal expenses. From recent studies it has become apparent that this is may be directly related to the quick elimination of MTX from the pro-inflammatory cells.
Amplio Pharma celebrates funding from Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland.
Amsterdam-based start-up Amplio Pharma B.V. has obtained a convertible loan from Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland.
The funding will be used to finalize the preparations of clinical trial application for the first clinical trial, a phase 1b proof-of-principle study, with patent-protected drug candidate NovoBioJect.
This candidate drut product has the potential to improve the lives of 20 million patients globally. NovoBioJect is a novel drug product in which the addition of the PK enhancer novobiocin results in the retention of methotrexate in cells responsible for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and Crohn’s disease.
For the full press-release (in Dutch), please follow the link provided within the title of this press release.
Amplio Pharma CEO Marguerite Mensonides stated
”​Thanks to the support of the Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland, we at Amplio Pharma can progress with the clinical validation of NovoBioJect. We are convinced that NovoBioJect will have a major impact on the quality of life of rheumatoid patients. We are proud and grateful that the Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland recognizes and supports this."
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Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland Fundmanager Ludolf Stavenga stated
"This approach has great potential to be widely applicable, not only for patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, but also for patients with other autoimmune diseases, which is why we at Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland are happy to support this."
PRESS RELEASE 31 DECEMBER 2023
Amplio Pharma celebrates production of investigational medical product (IMP)
intended for the upcoming phase 1 proof-of-principle (PoP) clinical trial.
Amplio Pharma CEO Marguerite Mensonides stated
”we are extremely proud that we managed to get the first GMP-conform IMP batch produced at the GMP facility of the LUMC right before the end
of this calendar year. And we are very greatful that this has been made possible by the financial support and trust put in us by LEH”
PRESS RELEASE 15 DECEMBER 2023
Amplio Pharma celebrates USPO's notice of allowance for NovoBioJect's patent.
Amplio Pharma CEO Marguerite Mensonides stated
”we are the first in decades to achieve this milestone for NovoBioJect and it clearly shows that the idea to boost the clinical efficacy and safety of the
cornerstone treatment of autoimmune diseases is both new and innovative. We look forward to bringing this improved 1st line treatment into
the hands of the patients within the next few years”
PRESS RELEASE 28 SEPTEMBER 2023
Amplio Pharma celebrates seed funding to reach clinical readiness.
Leiden-based start-up Amplio Pharma B.V. has successfully closed a seed funding round with Libertatis Ergo Holding.
The funding will be used to support preparation of the first clinical trial application for the patent-protected drug candidate NovoBioJect, with the potential to improve the lives of 20 million patients globally. NovoBioJect is a novel drug product that enhances retention of methotrexate in cells responsible for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and Crohn’s disease.
Amplio Pharma CEO Marguerite Mensonides stated
”we believe that we can successfully develop NovoBioJect and help patients by combining our industry experience with the expertise of Leiden University, LUMC and the CHDR in Leiden.”
LEH managing director Rob Mayfield stated
“there is an important role for academia in bringing new and improved drugs to market, especially in Leiden. We were happy to facilitate the collaboration between Amplio Pharma, Leiden University and LUMC with funding and expertise in order to prepare for the first in-human study of NovoBioJect in 2025.”
Further funding in 24/25 will be used to finance the execution of a healthy-volunteer Proof-of-Principle trial at the CHDR and preparation of a follow-on trial in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This latter Proof-of-Concept study will be developed and executed in close cooperation with Prof. Dr. Thomas Huizinga of the LUMC Department of Rheumatology. The production of the investigational medical product is taken on by the LUMC Academic Pharma Group led by Prof. Dr. Teun van Gelder, while the Clinical Trial Application (CTA) will be prepared and submitted by the CHDR.