Auspex Pharmaceuticals is a technology company.
Auspex Pharmaceuticals has raised $25.0M across 1 funding round.
Auspex Pharmaceuticals has raised $25.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Auspex Pharmaceuticals was a biopharmaceutical company that developed novel therapies using deuterium chemistry to modify known molecules, targeting hyperkinetic movement disorders like Huntington's disease, tardive dyskinesia, and Tourette syndrome, as well as other rare diseases such as fibrotic conditions and Parkinson's.[1][2][3] Its lead product, Austedo (SD-809 or deutetrabenazine), a vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT-2) inhibitor, offered potential improvements in safety, reduced drug-drug interactions, and less frequent dosing compared to existing treatments.[1][2][3] The company served patients with rare neurological and movement disorders, addressing unmet needs in efficacy and tolerability; it raised $95.62M, went public, and achieved positive Phase 3 results for SD-809 in Huntington's chorea before being acquired by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries in 2015 for integration into Teva's CNS portfolio.[2][4]
Founded in 2001 and headquartered in La Jolla, California, Auspex Pharmaceuticals emerged from innovative research into deuterium-modified drugs to enhance pharmacokinetics and safety profiles of existing molecules.[1][2][3] Pratik Shah, PhD, MBA, joined as an investor in 2007, later becoming President, CEO, and Director, steering the focus toward orphan indications like Huntington's disease after being drawn to the deuteration technology's potential.[7] Early traction included developing SD-809, securing orphan drug designation from the FDA, completing an IPO in 2014 (with market cap reaching $478M), and reporting positive Phase 3 trial results for Huntington's chorea in 2014, paving the way for a planned NDA submission in 2015.[3][7] This momentum culminated in Teva's acquisition on May 5, 2015, as a subsidiary to advance commercialization.[1][4]
Auspex rode the trend of precision medicinal chemistry in rare disease therapeutics, particularly deuterium substitution to optimize CNS drugs amid growing demand for better-tolerated treatments for orphan movement disorders affecting limited patient populations.[1][2][3] Timing aligned with rising biotech IPOs in the early 2010s and FDA incentives like orphan designations, amplified by unmet needs in Huntington's and tardive dyskinesia where existing therapies like tetrabenazine had dosing and safety limitations.[3][7] Market forces favoring big pharma acquisitions of late-stage assets with validated tech enabled Teva to bolster its CNS portfolio, influencing the ecosystem by validating deuteration as a platform—now seen in approved drugs like Austedo—and accelerating therapies from discovery to patients via integrated R&D and commercialization.[4]
Post-2015 acquisition, Auspex's assets integrated into Teva, with Austedo gaining FDA approval for Huntington's chorea in 2017 and expanding labels, demonstrating the enduring value of its deuteration approach in delivering marketed therapies.[1][4] Looking ahead, trends in rare disease innovation, AI-driven drug design, and gene therapies will shape similar platforms, potentially evolving Auspex's legacy through Teva's ongoing CNS expansions or deuterium applications in new modalities. Its influence persists as a model for tech-enabled biopharma acquisitions, tying back to its origins in transformative chemistry that unlocked safer treatments for underserved patients.[2][4]
Auspex Pharmaceuticals has raised $25.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Auspex Pharmaceuticals's investors include Vivo Capital.
Auspex Pharmaceuticals has raised $25.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $25.0M Series D in November 2012.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2012 | $25.0M Series D | Vivo Capital |