Mosanna Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech company developing pharmaceutical treatments for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), has secured $80 million in Series A funding to advance its lead nasal spray therapy through Phase 2 clinical trials. The financing round was led by EQT Life Sciences and Pivotal bioVenture Partners, with participation from Forbion, Broadview Ventures, Norwest, and returning investors including Forty51 Ventures, Supermoon Capital, and High-Tech Gründerfonds.
The Basel, Switzerland-headquartered company has appointed biotech veteran David Weber as CEO and President to guide the organization through its clinical development phase. Weber will lead efforts to advance MOS118, the company's nighttime nasal spray designed to restore the body's natural airway control during sleep.
Novel Pharmaceutical Approach to Sleep Apnea
Mosanna's therapeutic strategy represents a departure from traditional mechanical treatments for OSA. According to Daniela Begolo, Ph.D., Managing Director at EQT Life Sciences who will join the Board of Directors, "What sets Mosanna apart is its fundamentally different approach to sleep apnea, treating it as a neurological and muscular dysfunction rather than a purely mechanical issue."
MOS118 targets the upper airway muscles responsible for maintaining airway patency. Research has demonstrated that in OSA patients, the natural airway reflex becomes less active at night, leading to loss of airway patency and the occurrence of apnea episodes. The nasal spray is administered at nighttime and aims to restore this natural reflex mechanism.
"MOS118 is the first therapy with the potential to restore the body's natural airway reflex with the simplicity of a nasal spray," Begolo noted. "MOS118 has the potential to dramatically improve adherence and outcomes in a patient population that has long been underserved."
Addressing a Global Health Challenge
OSA represents the most common sleep-related breathing disorder, affecting an estimated 1 billion people globally. Despite this prevalence, the majority of patients remain undiagnosed and underserved by current treatment options. Left untreated, OSA is associated with serious health risks including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, depression, and excessive daytime sleepiness, contributing to workplace and car accidents.
Current treatment approaches have largely focused on mechanical solutions that are often uncomfortable and disruptive for patients. Mosanna's pharmaceutical approach offers a drug-based alternative that could potentially improve treatment adherence and patient outcomes.
Clinical Development and Pipeline Expansion
MOS118 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial. The new funding will support advancement of the therapy through Phase 2 development while also enabling expansion of Mosanna's broader pipeline of treatments for sleep apnea.
The company's approach of targeting the neurological and muscular components of OSA rather than relying solely on mechanical interventions positions it to address the significant unmet medical need in this patient population. The easily administered nasal spray format could potentially overcome adherence challenges associated with traditional OSA treatments.
