Antera Therapeutics announced today that it has raised $1.7M in Series Seed financing for the launch of Aralyte™, the doctor-recommended method of early peanut introduction into infants' diets. The round was funded by RA Capital Management and industry investors including Joe Gentile, CEO of Stemgent, Martin Madaus, former President, Chairman and CEO of Millipore, and Gil Omenn, CEO of University of Michigan Health System.
Food allergies present a growing problem, affecting 1 of every 13 American newborns. Promisingly, recent studies, including LEAP and LEAP-On, showed that a strict regimen of early peanut introduction resulted in a more than 80 percent reduction in the risk of peanut allergy development. While major medical associations, including the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology and the American Academy of Pediatrics, now recommend early introduction, many parents and clinicians are unsure of how to translate this into practice. Aralyte meets this need by providing a safe method of early peanut introduction for infants beginning at 3 months.
"Aralyte is a thoughtfully formulated way to implement one of the most significant clinical trial findings to date for the prevention of peanut allergy," said Wayne Shreffler, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Food Allergy Center at Massachusetts General Hospital. "We're excited to have a convenient, systematic way to meet this patient need."
Aralyte offers parents a simple regimen that takes the guesswork out of early peanut introduction. Each single-use vial contains the precise peanut protein amounts advised by clinical research in a liquid formula that is easy for infants to consume. The first dose of Aralyte can be administered with a physician to ensure safety and reduce parental anxiety.
"Antera is committed to helping parents use findings from research to inform the way they introduce new foods into their children's diets," said Clarence Friedman, founder and CEO of Antera Therapeutics. "In the coming years, we plan on developing methods to support parents in the early introduction of a variety of other allergens."
Aralyte Start Kits will be available at 100 of the most prestigious U.S. pediatric allergy clinics this year. Ask about availability at your clinic and visit aralyte.com to learn more about peanut allergy risk factors and the importance of early introduction.
About Antera
Antera Therapeutics transitions findings from leading pediatric allergy studies into products for physicians and caring families. Antera's team, which includes alumni of Procter & Gamble, CVS Health and Pfizer, is focused on ensuring that parents have a safe and simple way to navigate infant allergen introduction. Antera's first product, Aralyte™, the physician-recommended regimen for the early introduction of peanuts, is currently available for pre-order.
