Biotech raises oversubscribed Series B to advance first-in-class therapies for skin, lung and kidney scarring diseases.
Boston biotech Mediar Therapeutics just closed an oversubscribed $76 million Series B funding round, a clear signal that investors are ready to bet on bold ideas to tackle one of medicine’s stealthiest threats – fibrosis [1].
The round was co-led by Amplitude Ventures and ICG, with additional support from Longwood Fund, Asahi Kasei Pharma Ventures, Alexandria Real Estate Equities and Mediar’s original investors.
Fibrosis is the excessive scarring that can take over organs like the skin, lungs and kidneys, gradually shutting down function. It’s often invisible until it becomes life-limiting, affecting quality of life and, ultimately, lifespan.
Mediar is aiming straight at the cells that drive fibrosis, called myofibroblasts, which could be a game-changer for healthy aging.
Reflecting on a transformative 12-month period, Mediar CEO Rahul Ballal noted that the company’s progress was driven by its collaboration with Eli Lilly and a recent oversubscribed Series B financing involving top-tier biotech investors.
“With $175 million raised through these transactions, we can advance our novel anti-fibrotics through clinical studies and potentially bring life-changing therapies to patients suffering from fibrosing diseases of the skin, lung and kidney,” he said [1].
Mediar’s lead candidate, MTX-474, is already in a Phase 2a trial for systemic sclerosis (SSc), a rare condition where the skin thickens and internal organs can fail. Around 90 patients will participate in the EncompaSSc study, a 24-week trial designed to assess the therapy’s effectiveness and safety, using a validated skin thickness scoring system as the primary outcome measure.
“Emerging research shows that EphrinB2 signaling may contribute to fibrosis in multiple organs,” said Dr Lorinda Chung, the trial’s global principal investigator and professor at Stanford Medicine. “Patients with SSc face a large unmet need, and this Phase 2a trial will allow us to see if MTX-474 can make a meaningful difference in their lives [1].”
Another therapy, MTX-463, is being developed for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in collaboration with Eli Lilly [2]. This lung-scarring disease is notoriously hard to treat, and Lilly’s $99 million upfront deal for the therapy reflects confidence in Mediar’s approach. Meanwhile, MTX-439, targeting kidney fibrosis, is poised to enter Phase 1 studies in 2026.
Fibrosis is often the quiet contributor to age-related decline. Scar tissue gradually stiffens organs, reducing their ability to function and limiting overall healthspan. Mediar’s approach – targeting myofibroblasts, the “master scar-makers” – aims to intervene at the source rather than patching symptoms.
According to ICG’s Head of Life Sciences, Dr Allan Marchington, Mediar’s approach to the underlying causes of fibrosis is setting the stage for major clinical breakthroughs. Dr Bharat Srinivasa of Amplitude Ventures added that the organization intends to apply its scientific knowledge to develop life-changing patient therapies [1].
For those invested in longevity, halting or reversing fibrosis could extend not just lifespan, but healthspan, keeping organs flexible and functional longer, a crucial piece in the puzzle of living well as we age.
With fresh capital in hand, Mediar plans to advance all three therapies through their respective trials while remaining open to additional financing opportunities as data emerge.
Ballal emphasized the advantage of having multiple programs moving simultaneously: “Multiple shots on goal are rare in fibrosis biotech, and they increase the odds of delivering therapies that can truly change lives.”
Mediar is a company tackling one of aging’s silent killers with bold science, patient-focused trials and a clear vision for how stopping fibrosis could extend healthy life.
[1] https://www.mediartx.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Mediar-Series-B-Press-Release-FINAL.pdf
[2] https://www.gimv.com/en/news/mediar-therapeutics-enters-global-licensing-agreement-lilly-advance-first-class-wisp1-antibody
