PureTech Health has launched Celea Therapeutics, a new subsidiary dedicated to transforming treatment for serious respiratory diseases, with former Teva North America CEO Sven Dethlefs appointed to lead the venture. The Boston-based biotech company announced the formation of Celea to advance deupirfenidone (LYT-100), a Phase 3-ready therapeutic candidate targeting idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and other fibrotic lung conditions.
Leadership and Strategic Vision
Dr. Sven Dethlefs brings over 25 years of pharmaceutical experience to his new role as Celea's leader, having previously overseen Teva's $8 billion specialty branded and generic businesses across the U.S. and Canada. His background includes playing a key role in the successful launch of AUSTEDO, Teva's blockbuster treatment for Tardive Dyskinesia and Huntington's Disease, which is notably a deuterated form of tetrabenazine—the same underlying chemistry approach used in deupirfenidone.
"I believe deupirfenidone has the potential to be a true turning point in the treatment of IPF," Dethlefs stated. "Our Phase 2b data demonstrated the potential for best-in-class efficacy with a favorable safety and tolerability profile—addressing two of the most critical limitations of current therapies."
Clinical Development Progress
PureTech completed a successful Phase 2b trial of deupirfenidone in December 2024, with the global ELEVATE IPF trial demonstrating the drug's potential to stabilize lung function decline over at least 26 weeks as a monotherapy while maintaining a favorable safety and tolerability profile. Initial data from an ongoing open-label extension study suggest this effect may be sustained through at least 52 weeks.
The company has scheduled a meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to discuss Phase 2b results and proposed Phase 3 trial design by the end of the third quarter of 2025. Celea plans to launch Phase 3 testing by the end of Q3 2025 and is pursuing external funding for the program through Phase 3 and potential commercialization.
Addressing Unmet Medical Need
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis represents a significant unmet medical need, characterized as a rare, progressive, and fatal lung disease with median survival of two to five years following diagnosis. Current FDA-approved treatments—pirfenidone and nintedanib—offer only modest efficacy in slowing lung function decline, largely due to tolerability challenges that limit achieving higher, more effective doses.
These limitations have contributed to low treatment uptake, with approximately 25% of people with IPF in the U.S. ever receiving either approved drug. Despite this, combined peak global sales of existing treatments exceed $5 billion, representing a significant market opportunity in IPF and other fibrotic lung diseases.
Deuterated Drug Advantage
Deupirfenidone is a deuterated form of pirfenidone, one of the two FDA-approved IPF treatments. The deuteration approach may overcome the tolerability limitations that prevent patients from achieving optimal therapeutic doses with current therapies. Beyond IPF, deupirfenidone may also address multiple underserved fibrotic conditions, including progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases.
Corporate Strategy
The launch of Celea reflects PureTech's commitment to advancing differentiated programs through focused, capital-efficient structures with seasoned leadership. Robert Lyne, PureTech's Interim Chief Executive Officer, noted that "Sven brings deep experience in respiratory medicine and a strong track record of commercial success, including having played a critical role in the growth of AUSTEDO, a deuterated medicine developed using the same underlying chemistry approach as deupirfenidone."
PureTech shares were down 1.2% at 128.00 pence on Tuesday afternoon in London, having fallen 24% over the past 12 months. The company's innovative R&D model has resulted in the development of 29 therapeutics and therapeutic candidates, including three FDA-approved treatments.
