FALLS CHURCH, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Retension Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is pleased to announce the successful closing of its Series A $10.4 million financing round to initiate a well-powered and controlled Phase 2 clinical study in patients with hypertension uncontrolled on two or more antihypertensives.
Retension Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage therapeutic development company focused on developing innovative treatments for hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The company’s lead drug candidate, RTN-001, a second generation PDE5 inhibitor, was designed to target the tissues of the higher vasculature by the company’s CSO and Co-Founder, Dr. Paul Sweetnam, overcoming the limitations of first generation PDE5 inhibitors in the hypertension space. According to the WHO, it is estimated that hypertension affects 1.28 billion adults worldwide, of whom only 21% have their hypertension fully under control. In prior clinical trials, RTN-001 has been studied in over 265 human subjects, including two Phase 2 studies in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. In these studies, RTN-001 was shown to be well tolerated and demonstrated clinically significant blood pressure lowering effects.
“With a strong existing clinical data set, an established mechanism of action and FDA’s guidance document for the streamlined development of new antihypertension agents, Retension Pharmaceuticals is positioned to rapidly and efficiently develop RTN-001 for success in a population with significant unmet medical needs,” said Eric Keller, CEO and Co-Founder. “We are thrilled with the close of our first external financing round and incredibly appreciative of the support we have received from Collage Venture Partners and our new investors, many of whom have a deep understanding of our disease areas and the critical need for new and efficacious hypertension treatments.”
“The loss of nitric oxide production contributes importantly to hypertension,” said Dr. Jonathan Stamler, Distinguished University Professor and the Robert S. and Sylvia K. Reitman Family Foundation, Distinguished Chair in Cardiovascular Innovation, University Hospitals and CWRU, Cleveland. “Inhibition of PDE5 is a long-desired mechanism for enhancing NO-based signaling for the treatment of hypertension, and I am very pleased to see Retension Pharmaceuticals progress this important new therapeutic option for patients with uncontrolled and resistant hypertension.”
Commenting on the clinical development program for RTN-001, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bill Sasiela noted: “As someone new to this program, I have examined the prior clinical study data and was impressed by the robustness of the efficacy effects in patients already on up to four antihypertensives. With an established mechanism with well-studied safety and tolerability and demonstrated ability to reduce blood pressure on top of standard therapy, RTN-001 is a significantly de-risked experimental therapeutic agent that has the potential to be a paradigm-shifting treatment.”
The proceeds from the financing round will be used to fund an efficacy study for RTN-001 and support the company’s ongoing development efforts.
About Hypertension
Having high blood pressure (or hypertension) increases the risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the U.S. In 2023, more than 680,000 deaths in the U.S. included hypertension as a primary or contributing cause. High blood pressure and related health issues resulted in an average annual economic burden of about $131 billion each year in the U.S., averaged over 12 years from 2003 to 2014.
About Retension Pharmaceuticals
Retension Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing RTN-001 as a therapy for patients with hypertension. RTN-001 is a unique second generation inhibitor of PDE5 that, unlike earlier PDE5 inhibitors for erectile dysfunction, preferentially distributes to cardiovascular tissues. The compound is a potent and selective modulator of cGMP and has been studied in multiple clinical trials including over 265 subjects. It was well-tolerated and has demonstrated the promise of efficacy in early studies of patients with uncontrolled hypertension with blood pressure lowering on par with most established and clinical stage antihypertensives and reductions in central blood pressure.
Retension Pharmaceuticals is preparing to evaluate RTN-001 in an expanded Phase 2 program focusing on resistant and uncontrolled hypertension. RTN-001 is being developed under an exclusive world-wide license from Sanofi S.A.
For more information please see www.retensionpharmaceuticals.com
