Patara Pharma

About Patara Pharma

Patara Pharma was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company established in 2013 by William Gerhart, who also served as its CEO. The San Diego-based firm focused on developing treatments for debilitating allergic and inflammatory diseases, particularly those affecting orphan or focused patient populations. Gerhart, a seasoned biotech entrepreneur, had a history of founding successful respiratory-focused companies, including Elevation Pharmaceuticals and Mpex Pharmaceuticals, both of which saw their developments lead to marketed therapies for COPD and cystic fibrosis, respectively. This background in developing new aerosol therapies for underserved respiratory patient populations directly informed Patara's mission.

The company's business was centered on the clinical development of its sole lead candidate, initially known as PA101. This product was a novel, proprietary formulation of inhaled cromolyn sodium, an anti-inflammatory mast cell stabilizer, delivered via a high-efficiency, proprietary eFlow electronic nebulizer device. This delivery system was designed to achieve significantly higher drug deposition in the lungs compared to existing formulations. The company's strategy involved targeting conditions with high unmet medical needs. The primary markets were patients suffering from chronic cough associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and indolent systemic mastocytosis. The business model was typical of a clinical-stage biotech, focusing on advancing its lead asset through clinical trials to prove efficacy and safety, with the ultimate goal of commercialization or, more commonly, acquisition by a larger pharmaceutical company.

A key milestone was the closing of a $26 million Series A financing in October 2015, which, along with a debt facility, funded the initiation of Phase II clinical trials. The Phase II trial for chronic cough in IPF patients yielded positive results, demonstrating a statistically significant reduction in cough frequency. These promising results were published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine in 2017. In September 2018, Roivant Sciences acquired the global rights to PA101 (subsequently renamed RVT-1601) and related assets from Patara Pharma. Following this transaction, which saw Patara's executive team, including Gerhart, transition to lead a new Roivant subsidiary named Respivant Sciences, Patara Pharma ceased operations as its only asset had been sold.