Metri Bio raises US$5m for endo therapeutics

Boston biotech Metri Bio has raised US$5m in an oversubscribed pre-seed round to develop endometrial therapies.

The company emerged from stealth with the funding announcement.

The funding will accelerate development of Metri Bio’s discovery platform and therapeutic programmes for endometriosis.

The company will expand its team and research and development operations as it moves toward preclinical studies and future trials.

Metri Bio was co-founded by Berna Sozen, assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine, Ashley Abel, chief executive, and Kathy Potts, chief operating officer.

The company’s technology is based on research from the Sozen Lab at Yale.

It has developed 3D modelling capable of reproducing diseases of the endometrium (the uterus lining), including endometriosis, to study biological mechanisms previously out of reach, the company says.

Abel said: “Metri Bio is grounded in the belief that meaningful innovation in women’s health demands a deep understanding of the biology driving disease.

“Endometriosis affects one in ten women, yet treatments still rely on hormone suppression and repeat surgeries that rarely deliver lasting relief and often cause intolerable side effects.”

The funding round was led by Pillar VC, with participation from Pace Ventures, Slocum Management, Navec Investments and angel investors.

Thomas de Vlaam, partner at Pillar VC and chairman of Metri Bio, said: “It is absurd that a disease paradigm of this magnitude has no good treatment options.

“I’m confident that Metri Bio will play a pivotal role in helping the nearly 200 million women suffering from endometriosis receive the care they deserve.”

Sozen is an internationally recognised researcher in human organoid and developmental modelling technologies.

Potts has a background in translational research and early programme development in women’s health and haematology.