Serina Therapeutics secured a second $5 million funding tranche for advancing SER-252 into a Phase 1 trial in Parkinson's disease.
Quiver AI Summary
Serina Therapeutics, Inc. has successfully closed the second $5 million tranche of its $10 million equity financing with JuvVentures, aimed at advancing its lead drug candidate, SER-252 (POZ-apomorphine), into a Phase 1 clinical trial for advanced Parkinson's disease scheduled for the second half of 2025. The transaction involved the issuance of 500,000 shares of common stock at a premium to the market price, along with warrants for additional shares. CEO Steve Ledger highlighted the importance of this funding for the clinical advancement of SER-252, which utilizes Serina's proprietary POZ Platform™ to provide continuous dopaminergic stimulation, potentially improving treatment for Parkinson’s patients. Additionally, the press release noted Serina's strategic partnerships and the broader applicability of its POZ technology.
Potential Positives
- Successful closing of the second $5 million tranche of a $10 million equity financing, providing essential funding for ongoing clinical development.
- Advancement of SER-252 into a Phase 1 clinical trial for advanced Parkinson's disease patients, indicating progress in the company's drug pipeline.
- Issuance of shares at a 113% premium to the previous closing price, reflecting investor confidence in Serina's growth potential.
- Potential of the POZ Platform™ technology to enhance drug delivery and efficacy across various therapeutic applications, supporting the company's innovation strategy.
Potential Negatives
- The issuance of shares at a 113% premium indicates the company may be facing pressure on its stock price, potentially reflecting investor concerns or lack of confidence in the company's future performance.
- The reliance on a strategic shareholder for funding raises questions about the company's ability to attract broader investment and may indicate limited investor interest.
- Forward-looking statements indicate there are substantial risks and uncertainties associated with the clinical development of SER-252, which may deter potential investors and partners.
FAQ
What recent funding did Serina Therapeutics announce?
Serina Therapeutics announced the closing of a $5 million tranche from a $10 million equity financing with JuvVentures.
What is SER-252 (POZ-apomorphine) intended to treat?
SER-252 is being developed to treat advanced Parkinson's disease and aims to provide continuous dopaminergic stimulation.
When does Serina plan to initiate the Phase 1 clinical trial?
Serina plans to start the Phase 1 clinical trial of SER-252 in advanced Parkinson's patients in the second half of 2025.
What technology does Serina's POZ Platform™ utilize?
Serina’s POZ Platform™ utilizes a synthetic polymer called poly(2-oxazoline) to enhance drug loading and release precision.
Where is Serina Therapeutics headquartered?
Serina Therapeutics is headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, on the campus of the HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology.
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated summary of a press release distributed by GlobeNewswire. The model used to summarize this release may make mistakes. See the full release here.
$SER Insider Trading Activity
$SER insiders have traded $SER stock on the open market 15 times in the past 6 months. Of those trades, 15 have been purchases and 0 have been sales.
Here’s a breakdown of recent trading of $SER stock by insiders over the last 6 months:
- GREGORY BAILEY has made 9 purchases buying 46,767 shares for an estimated $312,850 and 0 sales.
- STEVEN MINTZ has made 6 purchases buying 14,943 shares for an estimated $97,742 and 0 sales.
To track insider transactions, check out Quiver Quantitative's insider trading dashboard.
$SER Hedge Fund Activity
We have seen 9 institutional investors add shares of $SER stock to their portfolio, and 8 decrease their positions in their most recent quarter.
Here are some of the largest recent moves:
- WAVERLY ADVISORS, LLC added 44,007 shares (+187.4%) to their portfolio in Q3 2024, for an estimated $294,406
- VANGUARD GROUP INC added 22,368 shares (+101.1%) to their portfolio in Q3 2024, for an estimated $149,641
- KEEL POINT, LLC added 17,774 shares (+inf%) to their portfolio in Q3 2024, for an estimated $118,908
- NORTHERN TRUST CORP added 14,787 shares (+inf%) to their portfolio in Q3 2024, for an estimated $98,925
- MILLENNIUM MANAGEMENT LLC removed 2,416 shares (-11.1%) from their portfolio in Q3 2024, for an estimated $16,163
- GEODE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC added 1,279 shares (+5.6%) to their portfolio in Q3 2024, for an estimated $8,556
- TOWER RESEARCH CAPITAL LLC (TRC) removed 1,151 shares (-58.9%) from their portfolio in Q3 2024, for an estimated $7,700
To track hedge funds' stock portfolios, check out Quiver Quantitative's institutional holdings dashboard.
Full Release
HUNTSVILLE, Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- S erina Therapeutics, Inc. (“Serina”) (NYSE American: SER), a clinical-stage biotechnology company, today announced the successful closing of the second $5 million tranche of its previously announced $10 million equity financing with strategic shareholder JuvVentures (UK) Limited. The transaction provides Serina with funding to continue advancing SER-252 (POZ-apomorphine), enabled by its proprietary POZ Platform ™ drug optimization technology, into a Phase 1 clinical trial in advanced Parkinson's disease patients in the second half of 2025. The closing represented the second tranche of the $10 million total financing announced on December 2, 2024.
The financing reinforces Serina’s ability to advance SER-252 into first-in-human studies. At closing, Serina issued 500,000 shares of common stock at $10 per share, representing a 113% premium to the closing price on January 31, 2025. Additionally, Serina issued warrants to JuvVentures for up to 755,728 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $18.00 per share.
“This financing strengthens our cash position as we advance SER-252 into the clinic,” said Steve Ledger CEO of Serina Therapeutics. “With a differentiated approach to continuous dopaminergic stimulation and an innovative drug delivery system, we believe SER-252 has the potential to provide meaningful benefits for patients with Advanced Parkinson’s disease. We remain focused on initiating our Phase 1 trial in the second half of this year.”
Serina previously announced the first $5 million tranche of this financing on December 2, 2024. Additional details about the transaction are available in Serina’s Form 8-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
About SER-252 (POZ-apomorphine)
SER 252 is an investigational apomorphine therapy developed with Serina’s POZ platform and designed to provide continuous dopaminergic stimulation (CDS). CDS has been shown to reduce the severity of levodopa-related motor complications (dyskinesia) and enable greater on time, with reduced off time, in advanced Parkinson’s patients. SER-252 leverages strategic partner Enable Injections’ enFuse ™ wearable drug delivery platform to enhance patient comfort and convenience, providing CDS to patients via an easy-to-administer, long-acting subcutaneous injection without skin reactions.
About the POZ Platform ™
Serina’s proprietary POZ technology is based on a synthetic, water soluble, low viscosity polymer called poly(2-oxazoline). Serina’s POZ technology is engineered to provide greater control in drug loading and more precision in the rate of release of attached drugs delivered via subcutaneous injection. The therapeutic agents in Serina’s product candidates are typically well-understood and marketed drugs that are effective but are limited by pharmacokinetic profiles that can include toxicity, side effects and short half-life. Serina believes that by using POZ technology, drugs with narrow therapeutic windows can be designed to maintain more desirable and stable levels in the blood.
Serina’s POZ platform delivery technology has potential for use across a broad range of payloads and indications. Serina intends to advance additional applications of the POZ platform via out-licensing, co-development, or other partnership arrangements, including the non-exclusive license agreement with Pfizer, Inc. to use Serina’s POZ polymer technology for use in lipid nanoparticle drug (LNP) delivery formulations.
About Serina Therapeutics
Serina is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a pipeline of wholly owned drug product candidates to treat neurological diseases and other indications. Serina’s POZ Platform ™ provides the potential to improve the integrated efficacy and safety profile of multiple modalities including small molecules, RNA-based therapeutics and antibody-based drug conjugates (ADCs). Serina is headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama on the campus of the HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology.
For more information, please visit https://serinatherapeutics.com .
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. These statements are based on management’s current expectations, plans, beliefs or forecasts for the future, and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Any express or implied statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about the potential of Serina’s POZ polymer technology, are forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates and/or launch dates, as well as the possibility of unfavorable new clinical data and further analyses of existing clinical data; the risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments by regulatory authorities; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from our clinical studies; whether and when any applications may be filed for any drug or vaccine candidates in any jurisdictions; whether and when regulatory authorities may approve any potential applications that may be filed for any drug or vaccine candidates in any jurisdictions, which will depend on a myriad of factors, including making a determination as to whether the product’s benefits outweigh its known risks and determination of the product’s efficacy and, if approved, whether any such drug or vaccine candidates will be commercially successful; decisions by regulatory authorities impacting labeling, manufacturing processes, safety and/or other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of any drug or vaccine candidates; and competitive developments. These risks as well as other risks are more fully discussed in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K that was filed with the SEC on April 1, 2024, and the company’s other periodic reports and documents filed from time to time with the SEC.
The information contained in this release is as of the date hereof, and Serina assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.
For inquiries, please contact:
Stefan Riley
[email protected]
(256) 327-9630