History of Trefoil Therapeutics

 

Trefoil was founded by recognized leaders in FGF research including Dr. Ralph Bradshaw, Ph.D., (in whose laboratory FGF-1 was discovered), Ken Thomas, Ph.D., (who purified FGF-1, elucidated its amino acid sequence and identified several of its mitogenic and in vivo activities), and Michael Blaber, Ph.D., (who defined the crystal structure and created and characterized a wide range of stabilized FGF-1 mutants). 

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Trefoil was founded in 2013 and was initially funded by the founders and a few individual investors, several of whom were ophthalmologists.  In 2017 the company received a $5 million Series 1 financing. At the same time, the company entered into a Collaborative Research and Development Agreement (CRDA) under the Therapeutics for Rare and Neglected Disease (TRND) program within the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) of the National Institutes of Health NIH). This funding allowed Trefoil to conduct investigational New Drug (IND) application enabling studies to advance its lead endothelial development program. 

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Trefoil also received a grant from the Department of Defense to investigate the use of TTHX1114 for the treatment of chemical gas injury. The positive findings from this pilot study provided the rationale to initiate a second development program for a topical formulation of TTHX1114 for the treatment of ulcerative conditions on the front surface of the cornea.

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Recognition and Awards:

 

Trefoil presented at the Connect Capital Competition in San Diego and was selected as the top early stage opportunity from a field of six finalist presenting companies.  

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Trefoil was invited to participate in the Southeast Bio Early Company Competition which had 13 companies competing in the early stage company category.  Trefoil was selected as a finalist from this group of companies and in the final round was selected as the top early stage company.

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