Reverb Therapeutics — Redirecting endogenous cytokines
This week, we are excited to launch our latest company — Reverb Therapeutics. Reverb is the culmination of a 15-month internal company creation effort, working closely with highly experienced, repeat entrepreneurs in David de Graaf and Surjit Dixit to build a new platform leveraging insights from over thirty years of cytokine biology.
The last ten years has seen several cytokine approaches emerge, including a few large partnerships and acquisitions, but none of these have translated into therapeutics. Cytokines can be very effective, but their mode of action provides a very narrow therapeutic window. Most approaches use lab-made cytokines or cytokine-related products which have failed to date due to toxicity, rapid clearance, immunogenicity and poor developability profiles. Many patients can get cytokine release syndrome, which can be deadlier than the disease itself
At Reverb, we started with a simple question…
What if we could amplify the effect of natural, endogenous cytokines and direct them towards tissues of interest?
The phenomenon of amplifying natural cytokines is not new, and several papers in the 1990s explored the effect of antibodies binding to cytokines to increase their concentration. Similar observations were also seen in patients receiving anti-cytokine antibodies which was a confounding observation.
However, this was a starting point for us. We worked closely with Dr Fred Finkelman, who published some of the earliest papers on this phenomenon, and with Dr Peter Sorger, a key leader in modelling complex systems to better understand this conclusion, to find ways to consistently and controllably recreate this observation for therapeutic use.
This led to the Amplifier platform.
Reverb’s Amplifier platform is a first in class approach that utilizes antibodies and quantitative systems pharmacology to amplify cytokines within the body and redirect them towards tissues of interest. The platform data generated to date has been stellar, showing that we can harness cytokines and drive therapeutic responses.
Why we’re excited:
None of this would be achievable without David and Surjit. David has extensive experience leading teams as CEO, building products and translating them into the clinic while Surjit played an instrumental role in building Zymeworks’ bispecific platform. The two of them working together are a force of nature.
The platform has broad potential in oncology and immunology. For the seed round, the company is advancing an IL-15 cytokine amplifier and targeting two, distinct tissue targets in a cis- and trans- manner in oncology. We are very excited to be partnering with them in building what we see as a next-generation approach to targeting cytokines, turning these powerful molecules into even more powerful drugs.
Amplitude co-created and led this round of financing, and we are excited about working with the Myeloma Investment Fund who is co-investing and brings world-class expertise, know-how and access in exploring this platform in multiple myeloma.
With its novel Amplifier platform targeting validated biology and expanding its therapeutic window, a strong management team and world leaders on the scientific advisory board, we are truly excited about Reverb and its potential to advance new and meaningful therapies for patients.
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About Amplitude Ventures
Amplitude Ventures deploys a growth model that has successfully been used to build Canadian companies with world-class management teams and scale companies to breakout potential. Amplitude, with offices in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver, has ~$500M in AUM and applies a proven, evidence-based approach to investing in leading Canadian and global precision medicine companies.
About Reverb Therapeutics
Based in Vancouver, Reverb Therapeutics is the leader in the development of treatments for cancer and other diseases using the body’s natural endogenous cytokines. Reverb’s Amplifier™ Antibody platform avoids the systemic toxicity normally associated with cytokine treatments by increasing cytokine levels only in targeted tissues. Elements of Amplifier antibodies are reusable, allowing Reverb to rapidly scale its pipeline across multiple disease areas. Learn more about opportunities to work with Reverb by contacting info@reverbtx.com
