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Citryll, a biotech startup based in Oss, Netherlands, has raised €85 million in a Series B funding round to advance its cutting-edge treatments for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. The round was co-led by renowned investors Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Forbion, and Novartis Venture Fund, with additional support from Pureos Bioventures and existing investors including BioGeneration Ventures, Seventure Partners, and the company’s founders.
Innovative Tactic of Inflammation
Citryll, founded in 2016, is focused on developing innovative therapies targeting Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs), which are web-like structures created by neutrophils to trap pathogens. While NETs play a crucial role in the body’s defense system, excessive or uncontrolled formation of NETs contributes to chronic inflammation and tissue damage in several immune-mediated disorders. Citryll
Citryll, founded in 2016, is focused on developing innovative therapies targeting Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs), which are web-like structures created by neutrophils to trap pathogens. While NETs play a crucial role in the body’s defense system, excessive or uncontrolled formation of NETs contributes to chronic inflammation and tissue damage in several immune-mediated disorders. Citryll‘s lead product, CIT-013, is the first-in-class monoclonal antibody designed to simultaneously clear existing NETs and prevent their formation, providing a more targeted way of modulating inflammation without suppressing the host immune system.Advancing Clinical Trials
The €85 million Series B financing will be used primarily to take CIT-013 into Phase 2a clinical trials for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Citryll has previously completed Phase 1 trials that demonstrated the safety and feasibility of repeat dosing of CIT-013. The Phase 2a trials will now be directed at determining the efficacy of CIT-013 in these chronic inflammatory conditions, where current treatments frequently fail to control the disease adequately.Eduardo Bravo, Citryll’s CEO, expressed excitement for the future: “With this funding, we accelerate the clinical development of CIT-013. We believe that the targeting of NETs can be a unique solution that will effectively serve the needs of patients suffering from diseases for which there are currently not enough therapeutic options.”
Citryll‘s innovative approach aims to fill the crucial gap in the treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Traditional therapies for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and hidradenitis suppurativa have often been poorly
managed with treatments having limited efficacy or undesirable side effects. The selective targeting of NET formation offered by CIT-013 promises a more precise mechanism in reducing inflammation and tissue damage, avoiding the immunosuppressive effects so commonly associated with traditional treatments.
“CIT-013 has the potential to redefine the way we treat inflammatory diseases,” according to Geert-Jan Mulder, Managing Partner at Forbion and newly appointed member of Citryll‘s board. “We are excited about the opportunity to support Citryll‘s progress, as the potential of this NET-targeting therapy is enormous in conditions such as RA and HS, where there are still many
patients who could not find an effective treatment.” Strategic Partnerships and Investment
The successful funding round by Citryll underlines the growing interest in NET-targeting therapies and positions the company as a leader in this emerging area of biopharmaceutical innovation. The support from global life sciences giants like Johnson & Johnson Innovation and Novartis Venture Fund brings not only capital but also strategic expertise and extensive networks to help scale Citryll‘s research and development efforts.
Florian Muellershausen, MD, Managing Director of Novartis Venture Fund: “Citryll‘s groundbreaking approach to targeting inflammation represents a new hope for patients who, for too long, have had few good options to address their inflammatory conditions. We are looking forward to the further development of this potentially revolutionary treatment.
While the highest visibility of CIT-013 for diseases will be rheumatoid arthritis and hidradenitis suppurativa, the implications of NET-targeting therapies range a lot more than these diseases alone.
Researchers have been looking for additional roles that NETs play in diseases involving systemic lupus erythematosus, pulmonary fibrosis, and even the case of organ damage due to sepsis. In this large variety of possible therapeutic applications, it positions Citryll highly toward being considered as at or near the top end among immune-mediated inflammation fighters.
The Future of Citryll and Dutch Biotech
The €85 million funding is a significant milestone for Citryll and marks one of the largest investments in the Dutch biotech sector in recent years. The investment highlights the growing strength of the Netherlands as a hub for life sciences innovation and reinforces Citryll‘s potential to bring novel solutions to market. Citryll‘s work is expected to have a lasting impact on the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions, providing new hope for patients worldwide.Clinical trials by the company and strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical global leaders indicate that Citryll is on its way to becoming a player in the biotechnology industry. Armed with a strong pipeline and investors whose influence is strong, this company is sure to effect good change in the treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.
