Celea Therapeutics has secured $180 million in financing to support the late-stage development of its lead drug candidate for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), marking a major milestone for the clinical-stage biotechnology company. The funding will enable the company to launch a global Phase 3 clinical trial of deupirfenidone (LYT-100), an investigational therapy designed to treat the progressive and life-threatening lung disease.
The financing round was led by a group of healthcare-focused investors, including RA Capital Management, Leaps by Bayer, and PureTech Health, the company that founded Celea Therapeutics. The round also included participation from a large U.S.-based healthcare investment fund and a leading sovereign wealth fund, although their identities were not disclosed.
Funding to Support Global Phase 3 Study
Celea Therapeutics said it will use the new capital to begin its SURPASS-IPF Phase 3 trial, which is expected to start in early third quarter (Q3) 2026.
The study will evaluate deupirfenidone (LYT-100) against pirfenidone, one of the currently approved treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Researchers will conduct the trial as a global, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled study involving adults with IPF who are not receiving background antifibrotic therapy.
Participants will receive either deupirfenidone 825 mg three times daily or pirfenidone 801 mg three times daily over a 52-week treatment period.
The primary endpoint of the study is the change from baseline in absolute Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) at Week 52, a widely accepted measure of lung function used to assess disease progression in patients with IPF.
Building on Phase 2 Clinical Results
Deupirfenidone is an investigational, deuterated form of pirfenidone that is being developed to improve treatment for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
The Phase 3 program follows results from the Phase 2b ELEVATE-IPF trial, which suggested that deupirfenidone slowed the decline in lung function compared with placebo while demonstrating a safety and tolerability profile that supported continued clinical development. Those findings formed the basis for advancing the therapy into a pivotal Phase 3 study.
The investigational therapy has also received Orphan Drug Designation from both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Commission, providing regulatory incentives for the development of treatments for rare diseases.
Addressing an Unmet Need in IPF
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic disease that causes irreversible scarring of the lungs, making it increasingly difficult for patients to breathe. The disease gradually reduces lung function over time and currently has no cure.
Although approved medicines such as pirfenidone and nintedanib can slow disease progression, they do not stop the disease or reverse lung damage. Many patients also experience side effects that can affect long-term treatment adherence, highlighting the need for additional therapeutic options.
Through the SURPASS-IPF trial, Celea Therapeutics aims to determine whether deupirfenidone can offer improved clinical outcomes compared with the current standard treatment.
Investors Back the Company’s Next Stage of Growth
The successful financing provides Celea Therapeutics with the resources needed to complete one of the most important stages of clinical development. According to the company, the funding is expected to support the Phase 3 program through key development milestones.
If the trial produces positive results and receives regulatory approval, deupirfenidone could become a new treatment option for people living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. However, the therapy remains investigational, and its safety and effectiveness have not yet been confirmed in a Phase 3 study.
The financing reflects continued investor confidence in the potential of new therapies for rare lung diseases and positions Celea Therapeutics to advance one of the largest clinical programs in its history.
