- Lutris Pharma has secured $30 million in funding to support the development of LUT014, a topical gel aimed at reducing skin toxicity caused by EGFR inhibitors (EGFRi) in cancer treatment.
- The financing round was led by Columbus Venture Partners and Pontifax Venture Capital, with participation from Peregrine Ventures and aMoon Fund.
Lutris Pharma, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has raised $30 million in a financing round to advance the development of LUT014, an innovative topically applied gel designed to reduce the acneiform rashes caused by EGFRi therapies, a common side effect of cancer treatments. The round was led by Columbus Venture Partners and Pontifax Venture Capital, with additional participation from Peregrine Ventures and aMoon Fund.
The funding will support the continued clinical development of LUT014, which aims to address the dose-limiting skin toxicities that often lead to treatment discontinuation in cancer patients. “We are deeply appreciative of Williamsburg Venture Holdings’ confidence in Orgenesis and their commitment to support the continued growth of our business,” said Noa Shelach, CEO of Lutris Pharma. “This financing will enable us to continue the clinical development of LUT014 with the goal of treating the acneiform rash to improve life quality and enabling adherence to EGFRi therapies.”
In October 2024, Lutris completed the phase 2 trial of LUT014 in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who develop dose-limiting rashes due to EGFRi treatment. The company plans to report the results in the first half of 2025.
The need for effective treatments for EGFRi-induced skin toxicities remains significant, with up to 90% of patients experiencing dermatologic side effects. Dr. Antoni Ribas, Chairman and Founder of Lutris Pharma, highlighted the lack of standard care for this issue and the potential of LUT014 to address this gap. The company aims to shift treatment paradigms, with the long-term goal of improving both cancer treatment outcomes and patients’ quality of life.