SciRhom GmbH

SciRhom GmbH is a pioneering biotech enterprise with the vision to translate advanced scientific findings into game-changing therapies for autoimmune diseases. Building on a detailed understanding of how a major cell-surface protease controls inflammation, SciRhom has worked closely with Prof. Carl Blobel of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City (USA) to develop first-in-class humanized antibodies against iRhom2. iRhom2 controls the enzyme TACE, a key node in several disease-causing signaling pathways. Tested in vitro and in mouse models of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), these antibodies potently and selectively inhibit TACE in immune cells, thereby protecting against RA and IBD. By targeting iRhom2/TACE, the SciRhom antibodies simultaneously block several established signaling pathways that are currently targeted individually by drugs approved for autoimmune disorders, including TNF-alpha and IL-6R signaling. Superior efficacy, as demonstrated in preclinical proof-of-principle studies, and an expected favorable safety profile make anti-iRhom2 antibodies prime candidates to outperform standard of care. Four patent families secure exclusivity for anti-iRhom2 inhibitors and provide broad protection against follow-on drugs. Current leading indications in the company’s development pipeline are RA, IBD, and lupus nephritis. Founded in 2016 at the Innovation and Startup Center (IZB) in Martinsried, Germany, SciRhom builds on the cutting-edge research of Professors Carl Blobel and Axel Ullrich. Prof. Blobel’s pioneering work on membrane-anchored metalloproteases (ADAMs) revealed iRhoms 1 and 2 as key upstream regulators of ADAM17 (also referred to as TACE), an enzyme that mediates pro-inflammatory signaling via TNF-alpha, IL6-R, and EGFR. That crucial piece to the complex puzzle of immune responses is the Achilles heel that SciRhom leverages to suppress autoimmune disease mechanisms. His research and vision advance the company’s development efforts at the forefront of this novel therapeutic opportunity. Prof. Blobel continues to play an essential role at SciRhom both as a collaborating partner and member of the Board of Directors. Prof. Ullrich is a world-renowned innovator and catalyst of groundbreaking medications. His extraordinary research track record includes meticulous insights into human signal transduction that underscore the translation of iRhom2 into a novel strategy to tackle autoimmunity and cancer. He contributed to the development of genetically engineered human insulin and the first targeted antibody-based cancer therapy, Herceptin. A lifetime dedicated to science produced one of the most cited bodies of scientific literature in the past 25 years, the establishment of six biotech companies, and numerous awards. Today, SciRhom has demonstrated the therapeutic potential of iRhom2 inhibitors, expanding the scientific foundation laid by Professors Blobel and Ullrich into a rapidly advancing drug development pipeline on track to bring a promising new therapy to market.