Otonomy Inc, a San Diego-based clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing new therapeutics for diseases and disorders of the inner and middle ear, has announced that it completed a Series C financing that raised $45.9 million in new funds. HR OtonomyLogo

Otonomy plans to use the financing to fund late-stage clinical trials for OTO-201 and OTO-104, development work to advance a third program to clinical trials and general corporate purposes. OTO-104 is a steroid that has completed a Phase 1b clinical trial in Meniere’s disease patients; OTO-201 is an antibiotic that has recently completed a Phase 1b clinical trial in pediatric patients with middle ear effusion at the time of tympanostomy tube placement surgery. The company’s proprietary technology provides sustained exposure of drugs to the middle and inner ear following a single intratympanic (IT) injection. Additional product candidates are expected to target tinnitus and chronic forms of hearing loss.

The investment was led by OrbiMed Advisors, LLC and new investors Aperture Venture Partners and Osage University Partners also participated. Existing investors Avalon Ventures, Domain Associates, Novo Ventures, RiverVest Venture Partners, and TPG Biotech joined in the financing, as well.

The company also announced today that, in conjunction with the financing, Chau Q. Khuong has joined Otonomy’s board of directors. Khuong is private equity partner at OrbiMed and brings significant experience in private company operations as well as business development.

“We are pleased to have some of the world’s leading healthcare investors participate in this financing led by OrbiMed,” said David A. Weber, PhD, president and CEO of Otonomy in a press statement. “Following the successful completion of clinical trials for both of our product candidates, Otonomy is now positioned to complete late-stage trials for both OTO-104 and OTO-201, and further expand our product pipeline.”

“Otic diseases remain underserved by the pharmaceutical industry and represent a significant unmet medical need with millions impacted each year in the US alone,” said Khuong. “OTO-104 and OTO-201, along with the company’s proprietary technologies, have established Otonomy as a leader in this field, and provide the opportunity for significant revenue generation and value creation.”

Source: Otonomy Inc