Despite antibodies’ advantages in specificity and safety, no approved antibody drugs currently target ion channels. This gap, particularly in treating diseases driven by ion channels and G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), represents a significant medical challenge. Maxion Therapeutics addresses this limitation through its KnotBody platform, which combines antibodies with cysteine-rich miniproteins (knottins) to create potent and selective treatments for these previously untargetable proteins.
Maxion Therapeutics, a biotech company developing antibody-based KnotBody® drugs for ion channel and G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) driven diseases, has secured £58M in an oversubscribed Series A round. General Catalyst led the round, with new investors British Patient Capital, Solasta Ventures, and Eli Lilly and Company joining existing investors LifeArc Ventures, Monograph Capital, and BGF. Additionally, Maxion received a £2 million grant from Innovate UK to advance its ion channel antibody development for autoimmune diseases, highlighting the promise of its approach.
The funding will advance Maxion’s proprietary KnotBody technology, supporting programs through clinical proof of concept and expanding its potential to address major global markets.
Behind Maxion Therapeutics: novel antibody platform
Founded in Cambridge in 2020, Maxion Therapeutics emerged from the work of Dr. John McCafferty (co-founder of Cambridge Antibody Technology and IONTAS) and Dr. Aneesh Karatt-Vellatt (co-founder of IONTAS). Dr McCafferty, known for inventing antibody phage display technology, which led to Humira’s development and earned the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, partnered with Dr. Karatt-Vellatt to tackle a crucial challenge: developing antibody therapies for ion channels and GPCRs. These proteins, while central to autoimmune conditions, chronic pain, and cardiovascular disease, have historically resisted antibody targeting.
Maxion addresses a critical market need: ineffective antibody therapies for ion channel and GPCR-driven diseases. While these proteins play key roles in various conditions, current treatments show limited efficacy and safety. Engineered antibodies offer superior selectivity compared to small-molecule drugs, making them promising alternatives where traditional approaches fall short.
Through its proprietary KnotBody platform, Maxion aims to develop novel, effective treatments for ion channel and GPCR-driven diseases. The KnotBody platform uniquely combines knottins (cysteine-rich mini-proteins) with antibodies, creating potent and selective therapeutics that offer greater potency, selectivity, and durability than traditional antibody therapies.
KnotBody molecules with “first-in-class” and “best-in-class” potential
Maxion is building a pipeline of potentially groundbreaking therapeutics using its KnotBody technology, which creates potent, selective, and long-acting treatments by combining naturally occurring mini-proteins (‘knottins’) with antibodies through advanced phage and mammalian display technologies. The KnotBody technology merges knottins (natural ion channel modulators) with antibodies to create safe, effective, and long-lasting ones.
Maxion’s KnotBody technology distinguishes itself from competitors like Nxera Pharma, Biosceptre, and Daiichi Sankyo by targeting ion channels and GPCRs with a single platform. This approach combines knottins’ natural modulatory properties with antibodies’ drug-like characteristics to overcome traditional barriers targeting these complex membrane proteins.
The company’s lead program, MAX001, is advancing through preclinical development for various inflammatory conditions, including atopic dermatitis and inflammatory bowel disease. Maxion is also developing early-stage KnotBody molecules for pain management and cardiovascular disease.
Ion channel and GPCR dysfunction underlie many debilitating diseases, yet current small-molecule treatments often lack selectivity, leading to poor efficacy and side effects. While engineered antibodies offer better selectivity and proven therapeutic value, developing antibodies against ion channels and GPCRs has proven challenging, with no ion channel antibodies currently in clinical development.
Future implications for drug development
Maxion’s KnotBody technology is poised to transform treatment options across major global markets, transforming therapies for ion channel and GPCR-driven diseases.
Arndt Schottelius, MD PhD, Chief Executive Officer at Maxion Therapeutics, said: “KnotBodies represent a potential breakthrough biologic drug modality, delivering greater potency, selectivity, and durability. We believe they will provide transformational new therapeutic options for ion channel- and GPCR-driven diseases across a wide range of therapeutic areas with a remaining high unmet medical need. The calibre of our international investor syndicate validates our approach, and I would like to welcome our new investors to Maxion and thank our existing investors for their continued support.”
Emma Johnson, Senior Investment Manager – Life Sciences, Direct & Co-Investments, British Patient Capital, said: “We’re excited to support Maxion at a pivotal stage in their development and realise the potential of the KnotBody platform. This advances the field of antibody therapeutics, opening up new target classes to ultimately benefit patients, and builds on the successes of the UK’s contributions to the global biologics market.”
Elena Viboch, Managing Director at General Catalyst, said: “We believe Maxion is radically shifting the biologics discovery process to address the most challenging drug targets such as ion channels and GPCRs. With a strong team and differentiated platform, Maxion is well-positioned to discover and develop medicines that matter.”
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