Oss-based Citryll, a biotech company pioneering therapies for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, has closed an €85 million Series B funding round.
The oversubscribed round was co-led by Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Inc., Forbion, and Novartis Venture Fund, with participation from Pureos Bioventures, existing investors, and Citryll’s founders.
Targeting Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs)
The firm’s lead candidate, CIT-013, is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody targeting Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs). These web-like structures, composed of DNA and proteins, play a role in trapping pathogens but can lead to tissue damage and chronic inflammation when excessively formed.
The therapy aims to:
- Clear existing NETs.
- Prevent the formation of new NETs.
CIT-013’s specificity minimizes unwanted side effects, preserving normal cellular functions. It has shown promising results in Phase 1 trials and is progressing to Phase 2a trials for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS).
Eduardo Bravo, CEO of Citryll, stated: “This funding validates the potential of CIT-013 and strengthens our clinical development program. Our NET-targeting approach could provide new solutions where current therapies fall short.”
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Expanding the Pipeline
While initially focusing on RA and HS, the company plans to explore applications of its NET-targeting therapy across a broad spectrum of inflammatory diseases.
Strategic Backing from Global Investors
Geert-Jan Mulder, Managing Partner at Forbion, emphasized the potential impact: “The NET-targeting therapy addresses significant unmet needs in inflammatory disorders, offering hope for patients with limited treatment options.”
Other investors, including Novartis Venture Fund and Johnson & Johnson, expressed similar optimism about the technology’s scalability and efficacy.
A Collaborative Milestone
Founded by scientists Helmuth van Es and Renato Chirivi, Citryll originated as a spinoff from ModiQuest B.V. and is building on years of foundational research in autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.
With this funding, the startup is poised to accelerate the development of CIT-013, advancing its mission to redefine treatment paradigms for immune-mediated diseases.
