Terremoto Biosciences has successfully closed a $108 million Series C financing round. The capital will be utilized to push its pipeline of selective AKT1 inhibitors through early clinical development, targeting various oncology and rare disease indications.
Scientific Foundation and Technological Advantage: Current AKT inhibitors typically inhibit AKT1, 2, and 3 non-selectively, often leading to significant side effects such as glucose dysregulation and liver toxicity (generally linked to AKT2). Terremoto is focusing on AKT1-selective inhibition to overcome these toxicity hurdles, aiming to provide a more tolerable therapy while maintaining therapeutic efficacy.
Key Clinical Programs:
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Oncology: The lead asset, TER-2031 (a selective AKT1 blocker), is currently being evaluated in a first-in-human Phase I trial. The study targets solid tumors harboring PIK3CA, AKT, or PTEN mutations, including breast, ovarian, endometrial, and head and neck cancers.
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Rare Diseases: The company plans to move TER-4480 into clinical trials for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) later in 2026. HHT is a genetic bleeding disorder affecting approximately 1.4 million people globally, for which no approved therapies currently exist.
Market Outlook: The financing round attracted major investors, including Novo Holdings, OrbiMed, and Third Rock Ventures. As the AKT inhibitor landscape becomes increasingly competitive with numerous ongoing clinical trials, Terremoto’s focus on selectivity is expected to set a new benchmark for safety compared to existing non-selective therapies.