Zynext Ventures USA LLC, the venture capital arm of Zydus Lifesciences, has announced its investment in Illexcor Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation oral therapies for sickle cell disease (SCD).

Illexcor is developing a first-in-class oral drug that directly targets the root cause of SCD. Their lead asset, currently in preclinical development, is designed to bind to Hemoglobin S and effectively block polymerization and sickling, offering the potential for disease-modifying clinical benefits.

Speaking on the development, Dr. Sharvil Patel, MD of Zydus Lifesciences, said, “This investment reflects our commitment to patients battling rare and orphan diseases. Recognising the profound impact of sickle cell disease on patients' lives, we are pleased to support Illexcor in their efforts to develop a novel therapeutic solution addressing this critical unmet medical need.”

Emphasising the strategic significance of the investment, Jay Kothari, Director of Zynext Ventures said, “This investment is consistent with Zynext Ventures' objective of identifying and fostering transformative early-stage healthcare innovations. Beyond the financial backing, Zynext Ventures will leverage its unique data analytics and strategic expertise to accelerate Illexcor's path to delivering this potentially life-changing therapy globally.”

Andrew Fleischman, CEO of Illexcor stated, “We are excited to partner with Zynext Ventures to advance our lead drug ILX002 into clinical trials later this year. We are hopeful that ILX002 will be a transformative treatment not only for SCD patients in the U.S. but also for millions around the globe. Zynext Ventures and Zydus Lifesciences are in a strategic position to help us achieve these goals."

Sickle cell disease is a devastating and debilitating genetic condition that affects up to 10 million people worldwide. The disease continues to severely impact quality of life and longevity. Highly efficacious oral drug therapies are urgently needed to manage this condition on a global scale.