Ankere Therapeutics

Australian biotech company Ankere Therapeutics has launched with $10m investment.

Ankere is dedicated to the development of new therapies that target inflammatory diseases, particularly those affecting the lung. It was founded by Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS) Medicinal Chemist, Associate Professor Bernard Flynn, and Professor Stuart Pitson from the University of South Australia’s Centre for Cancer Biology and is based on proprietary small molecules arising from their decades-long collaboration.

The funding round was jointly led by IP Group and Brandon Capital, through Brandon BioCatalyst, and will support the company through its preclinical development and into clinical trials.

Inflammatory lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary fibrosis can be very debilitating and are lead causes of death worldwide. The disease modifying therapies under development have the potential to have a real global impact.

Ankere is an Arrernte (central Australian Indigenous) word meaning spinifex wax, used in traditional medicines. The use of the name is acknowledgement of Ankere’s Australian heritage and passion for better health outcomes. Permission to use this word was received from the Arrernte culture centre, Akeyulerre, in Alice Springs.