BALTIMORE, MD – Arginetix Inc. has raised a $10.75 million Series A financing co-led by Quaker BioVentures and MedImmune Ventures, the AstraZeneca venture capital fund. Maryland Health Care Product Development Corp., Osage University Partners, Red Abbey Venture Partners and company co-founder Acidophil LLC also participated.

Arginetix says it will utilize this financing for further discovery and to continue development of its first-in-class arginase inhibitors for cardiovascular and pulmonary indications.

Arginase is an enzyme that leads to endothelial dysfunction. That disrupts normal biochemical processes carried out by the endothelium, the cells that line the inner surface of all blood vessels including arteries and veins.

Inhibiting the enzyme may help treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, asthma, atherosclerosis and other diseases.

The company’s scientific foundation is based on licensed intellectual property of its scientific co-founders, David Christianson, Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania and Dan Berkowitz, M.D. at The Johns Hopkins University.

“Arginetix is pursuing major clinical opportunities using their technology for patients with cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. The company’s recent research has added further validation for this important innovation,” says Dr. Geeta Vemuri, partner at Quaker BioVentures.

“Arginase appears to be an attractive target with therapeutic potential in a wide range of cardiovascular and pulmonary indications. We are pleased to support their development efforts through this investment and look forward to working with the management team,” says Eva M. Jack, managing director at MedImmune Ventures.

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