Company attributes
Other attributes
Aclaris Therapeutics is a publicly held biopharmaceutical company headquartered in that was founded in 2012 by Christopher Powala, Frank Ruffo, Neal Walker, Stuart D. Shanler. It focuses on identifying, developing, and commercializing therapies to address unmet needs in dermatology, including medical, aesthetic, and immunology. The company explores therapies for market segments with no FDA-approved medications.
Aclaris has two commercialized products in its portfolio, Eskata and Rhofade. Eskata is topical treatment for SKs (seborrheic keratoses). SKs are harmless spots that pop up as a person ages. Rhofade on the other hand, is a topical treatment for persistent facial erythema associated with rosacea in adults. Rhofade was originally developed by Allergan, which Aclaris then acquired the worldwide rights to.
The company also has several other product candidates in its pipeline at various stages of development. A-101 is a topical solution for the treatment of common warts that will be entering Phase 3 of clinical trials.
ATI-502 is a topical JAK1/JAK3 inhibitor that is being investigated (Phase 2) for alopecia areata, including patchy alopecia areata and the more severe forms of the disease, alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis. The product is also under investigation (Phase 2) for androgenetic alopecia, vitiligo, and atopic dermatitis. In July 2017, Aclaris filed an IND (investigational new drug) application for ATI-502.
ATI-501 is an oral JAK1/JAK3 inhibitor under investigation for the more severe forms of alopecia areata, alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis. An IND was filed in 2016 for this product. ATI-501 is a pro-drug that is converted to its active form, ATI-502.
Other product candidates in Phase 1 and pre-clinical stages are:
- ATI-450MK2 pathway inhibitor - oral form is being investigated as a potential treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, cryopyrin-associated period syndroms, and pyoderma gangrenosum.
- ATI-1777JAK1/JAK3 inhibitor - soft topical form is being investigated as a potential treatment for atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, and alopecia areata.
- ITK/JAK3 inhibitor - soft topical and oral forms being investigated for potential in treating psoriasis, inflammatory dermatoses, and inflammatory bowel disease.
- MK2 pathway inhibitor - oral forms being investigated for potential in oncology.
On October 24, 2012 Aclaris Therapeutics completed their series A funding round with $21 million in funding from Vivo Capital (lead investor), F-Prime Capital Partners (lead investor), and Sofinnova Ventures.
On October 2, 2014 Aclaris Therapeutics completed their series B funding round with $21million in funding from Vivo Capital, F-Prime Capital Partners, and Sofinnova Ventures.
On September 9, 2015 Aclaris Therapeutics completed their series C funding round with $40 million in funding from RA Capital Management (lead investor), Vivo Capital, Sofinnova Ventures, Rock Springs Capital, Mossrock Capital, F-Prime Capital Partners, Cormorant Asset Management, and Aperture Venture Partners.
