Hinge Bio is based in Burlingame, California and has developed a platform technology called GEM-DIMER, which aims to deplete B cells and reset the immune system in B-cell mediated autoimmune conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus.
The $30 million Series A fundraise was led by American hedge fund Point72. Ridgeback Capital, InVivium Capital, Lightswitch Capital and others also contributed to the fundraise.
Hinge Bio’s platform technology allows multivalent, multispecific antibody-based therapeutics to be created to increase biological efficacy and activity. It’s lead candidate, HB2198, is designed to target CD19 and CD20 with increased natural killer cell binding in patients with lupus.
Both lab-based and animal preclinical data released at the end of last year showed HB2198 induced fast and effective B cell depletion.
The company will use money from the fundraise to begin a phase 1 study in lupus patients later this year to test safety and efficacy of its lead candidate. If effective, HB2198 is designed to reset the immune system through B cell depletion in blood and lymphoid tissues with similar convenience, cost and safety benefits of a more standard antibody therapeutic.
“Hinge has developed a platform to create best in class medicines against known and novel targets. The lead program is a B-cell depleting medicine that we believe will be as efficacious as a CD19 CAR T in autoimmune disease with the safety and tolerability of a simple monoclonal antibody,” commented Wayne Holman, Founder & CEO of Ridgeback Capital, in a press statement.
“This would allow for a profound benefit and immune reset across a wide range of autoimmune diseases with a simple short term intravenous or subcutaneous therapy. This may transform autoimmune disease and leapfrog competing platforms such as CAR T and T-cell engagers in the B cell depletion field.”
Hinge’s technology was invented by Daniel Capon, the current CSO of the company, who is also the co-inventor of recombinant Factor VIII for hemophilia, Fc fusion proteins, scFv-Zeta Chimeric Antigen Receptors for T cell therapy, and germline-modified mice producing repertoires of fully human antibodies capable of recognizing human disease targets.
Treating a complex disease
Lupus is an autoimmune disease thought to affect around 5 million people around the world, the majority of whom are women (90%).
There are four types of lupus, but the majority (70%) of cases are systemic lupus erythematosus. A small number of cases are drug induced, impact only the skin or affect babies due to the mothers’ antibodies.
Systemic lupus is very varied between people with some having mild and some severe symptoms, but inflammation and autoimmunity can impact the skin and joints. People with this condition also experience fever, chest pain, tiredness, hair loss and swollen lymph nodes.
There is no cure for lupus and limited treatments available. It can be a difficult disease to treat due to the varying types and severity of symptoms. It is mediated by B cells producing autoantibodies that mistakenly target the organs of the person with the condition, so B cell depletion like the one developed by Hinge Bio are thought to have promise for treating people with this complex condition.
