SciFluor Life Sciences

About SciFluor Life Sciences

SciFluor Life Sciences was a biopharmaceutical firm established in 2011, leveraging the unique properties of fluorine to enhance small molecule therapeutics. The company was founded by Tobias Ritter, a professor at Harvard University, based on his research in late-stage fluorination. This scientific foundation allowed SciFluor to modify existing and novel compounds, aiming to improve their potency, selectivity, metabolic stability, and tissue penetration. The company was a subsidiary of Allied Minds, a firm specializing in commercializing intellectual property from U.S. universities and research institutions.

SciFluor’s business model focused on a de-risked approach to drug discovery. It targeted approved small-molecule drugs or those with extensive human trial data, applying its fluorine chemistry to create new chemical entities with improved pharmacological profiles and robust patent protection. The strategy was to address known limitations in existing therapies, such as safety or efficacy, thereby creating candidates for partnership and commercialization with other biopharmaceutical companies. Initial funding of $5 million came from Allied Minds in 2011, followed by a significant $30 million Series A round in 2015 from investors including Invesco Asset Management and Woodford Investment Management.

The company's pipeline included candidates for central nervous system disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and oncology. A lead candidate was SF0166, a topically administered eye drop for treating retinal diseases like wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME). This product was designed as a non-invasive alternative to the standard treatment of monthly injections into the eye, a market valued at over $8 billion. Another key asset was SF0034, a potassium channel activator for neurological conditions such as epilepsy, intended as an improvement on an existing drug. In 2016, the company received FDA clearance to begin Phase 1/2 clinical trials for SF0166. Despite these developments, corporate records indicate that SciFluor Life Sciences is now out of business.