Tisento Launches with $81 Million From Top-Tier Investor Syndicate and Promising Cyclerion Assets

        – Asset Purchase Agreement Closed; Cyclerion Received Equity Ownership in Tisento and Upfront Cash Payment –

– Tisento Developing Zagociguat in MELAS*, a Rare Primary Mitochondrial Disease with No Approved Therapies, Leveraging Extensive Preclinical and Clinical Data Generated by Cyclerion –

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 31, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CYCN) and Tisento Therapeutics, Inc. today announced the closing of the previously disclosed asset purchase agreement. Tisento is launching with an $81 million Series A financing to support its development of the Phase 2 soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator zagociguat in MELAS and other genetic mitochondrial diseases, as well as the company’s advancement of additional assets for serious diseases with unmet need.

Zagociguat is a first-in-class, brain-penetrant sGC stimulator that modulates the nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway, a fundamental cell-signaling pathway, and has shown potential to treat both central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral symptoms of mitochondrial diseases. Phase 2a clinical data, generated by Cyclerion, showed rapid improvements in disease-associated biomarkers in patients with MELAS who received zagociguat for 28 days. In the study, zagociguat exhibited an excellent safety profile, exposure in the CNS and throughout the body consistent with once-daily oral dosing, and improvements across key domains of the disease pathophysiology including neuronal function, mitochondrial function, cerebrovascular hemodynamics, and inflammatory processes.

“Tisento is launching with a Phase 2b-ready asset, compelling clinical data, an experienced team led by CEO Peter Hecht, committed investors, and an established network of healthcare providers and patient advocates. We have significant momentum and a strong sense of urgency to deliver on behalf of patients who currently have no treatment options,” said Bryan Roberts, PhD, Chair of the Board at Tisento and partner at Venrock. “The nitric oxide-cyclic GMP pathway has yielded a number of meaningful approved therapies. We are excited to extend the potential of this mechanism into the central nervous system by advancing the first brain-penetrant sGC stimulators. We are laser-focused on executing on our Phase 2b study of zagociguat in MELAS in order to build on the promising Phase 2a clinical data and deliver a potential new option for patients as quickly as possible.”