Vima Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, launched today with $60 million in Series A financing to advance VIM0423, a potential first-in-class oral therapy for dystonia and related movement disorders. The funding round was led by Atlas Venture, with participation from Access Industries and Canaan.
The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company is targeting a significant unmet medical need in dystonia, a chronic and disabling neurological condition characterized by involuntary muscle contractions. Isolated dystonia, where dystonia is the primary neurological symptom, affects over 100,000 people in the United States, while dystonia and related movement disorders together impact more than one million Americans.
Addressing Root Cause of Dystonia
"Currently, there are no existing treatments that address the root cause of dystonia, leaving many patients to struggle with symptoms that severely impact their function and quality of life," said Bernard Ravina, MD, MS, founder and chief executive officer of Vima. "As a neurologist, I have firsthand experience treating people with dystonia and its devastating consequences, witnessing the significant need for a safe and effective oral treatment."
VIM0423 is designed to target muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the brain with improved pharmacology, efficacy, and safety compared to existing therapies. While drugs targeting muscarinic receptors are currently used clinically for movement disorders, they are significantly limited by poor tolerability, which reduces their therapeutic efficacy.
Clinical Development Timeline
The company's lead candidate is currently being studied in a Phase 1 clinical trial, with Phase 2 studies planned to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025. This timeline positions Vima to potentially deliver the first oral therapy specifically designed to target the underlying biology of dystonia.
"From its inception as a seed investment in Atlas' incubator, Vima was formed with a singular focus: to change the lives of patients with dystonia," said David Grayzel, MD, co-founder and chair of Vima's board of directors, and partner at Atlas Venture. "Having assembled an exceptional team of drug developers, Dr. Ravina and our head of R&D, Dr. Judith Dunn, are now bringing to the clinic a potential first-in-class therapy with the potential to be an impactful new medicine."
Experienced Leadership Team
Vima's leadership brings extensive drug development experience across the pharmaceutical industry. CEO Bernard Ravina has over 25 years of experience in government, academia, and industry, having previously served in leadership positions at Biogen, Voyager Therapeutics, and Praxis Medicines. President and head of R&D Judith Dunn brings more than 30 years of drug development experience, including her role as global head of clinical development at Roche.
The executive team is rounded out by Chief Financial Officer Jessica Fees, who previously served as CFO at Surface Oncology; Chief Business Officer and General Counsel Ariel D. Jasie; and Chief Technical Officer Tushar Misra, PhD, who has over 30 years of pharmaceutical industry experience with leadership roles at Wyeth, Sepracor, and Takeda.
Targeting Broader Movement Disorder Market
Dystonia occurs in both adults and children and shares underlying biology with other movement disorders, suggesting potential for VIM0423's therapeutic approach to extend beyond isolated dystonia. The company's focus on targeting the root cause of these conditions through muscarinic receptor modulation represents a novel approach in the movement disorder treatment landscape.
Vima aims to usher in a new era of treatment for movement disorders by targeting the underlying biology rather than just managing symptoms. With deep expertise and a strong commitment to the dystonia community, the team is focused on delivering an effective oral therapy that helps patients with dystonia regain control of their movement.
