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§ Private Profile · 116 Huntington Avenue, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02116, US
Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for rare hemoglobinopathies like sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia.
Imara, Inc has raised $94.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at Imara, Inc.
Imara, Inc has raised $94.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Imara, Inc. was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Boston, Massachusetts, focused on developing novel therapeutics for rare hemoglobinopathies like sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. The company secured $31 million in Series A funding in 2016 and a $75 million IPO in 2020. By 2022, Imara reported $10.5 million in revenue and a $25.1 million net loss, with its employee count reduced to 6 from 41 in 2021. Lead investors included New Enterprise Associates, Pfizer Venture Investments, Lundbeckfonden Ventures, and Bay City Capital. Imara sold its lead candidate, tovinontrine, to Cardurion Pharmaceuticals for up to $95 million in 2022, ultimately ceasing independent operations via a reverse merger with Enliven Therapeutics. Incorporated in January 2016, James McArthur is noted as its founder.
Imara, Inc has raised $94.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $63.0M Imara - Series B in March 2019.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2019 | $63M Series B | Arix Bioscience, OrbiMed | Aisling Capital, Endeavor Venture Funds, Soffinova Partners, Ysios Capital, James Barrett, Alexandria Venture Investments, BAY City Capital, Lundbeckfond Ventures, NEW Enterprise Associates, Matthew Hammond, Rock Springs Capital | Announced |
| Apr 14, 2016 | $31M Series A | — | Alexandria Venture Investments, BAY City Capital, Lundbeckfond Ventures, NEW Enterprise Associates | Announced |
Imara, Inc has raised $94.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Imara, Inc's investors include Arix Bioscience, OrbiMed, Aisling Capital, Endeavor Venture Funds, Soffinova Partners, Ysios Capital, James Barrett, Alexandria Venture Investments, Bay City Capital, Lundbeckfond Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, Matthew Hammond.
Key people at Imara, Inc.
Imara, Inc. (IMRA) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for rare genetic disorders of hemoglobin, primarily sickle cell disease (SCD) and other hemoglobinopathies.[1][2][3][4] Its lead product candidate, IMR-687, is a highly selective, potent small molecule inhibitor of PDE9 designed to reduce red blood cell sickling and white blood cell adherence to vessel walls, addressing unmet needs in SCD treatment.[1][2] The company serves patients with these rare diseases, operating from Boston, MA, with a focus on advancing clinical programs despite no current revenue (Q2 2023: $0 revenue, $18.2M net loss, $52M cash).[1][3]
Imara went public in March 2020 via NASDAQ IPO at $16/share, raising ~$75M, but remains pre-commercial with ~20 employees and high R&D expenses.[3] Growth momentum hinges on clinical milestones for IMR-687 and pipeline expansion into areas like cardiovascular diseases, targeting a $1.9B rare disease market by 2025.[1]
Search results present conflicting founding dates for Imara, Inc.: one source claims 1995 with early focus on rare disease therapeutics and a 2010 IND filing for IMRA-101,[1] while more consistent biopharma profiles indicate 2016 as the founding year.[3] The 2016 timeline aligns with its clinical-stage status, NASDAQ IPO in 2020 (symbol IMRA), and development of IMR-687.[2][3][4]
Little public detail exists on specific founders or their backgrounds, though the company emerged from biotech innovation targeting hemoglobin disorders.[2][4] Pivotal early traction included the 2020 IPO managed by Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, and SVB Leerink, providing capital for Phase 2 trials of IMR-687 in SCD patients.[1][3] This public debut marked a shift toward aggressive clinical advancement amid a niche but high-need rare disease space.[1]
Imara rides the rare disease biotech wave, fueled by regulatory incentives like FDA orphan drug designations, which accelerate approvals and offer market exclusivity for hemoglobinopathies affecting millions globally.[1][2] Timing aligns with surging investor interest in gene-modulating therapies for SCD—post-2020 approvals like Casgevy (CRISPR-based) validate the space, creating tailwinds for small-molecule alternatives like IMR-687 that may offer oral dosing advantages.[2]
Market forces favoring Imara include a $1.9B projected rare disease sector by 2025 and partnerships for global reach.[1] It influences the ecosystem by advancing PDE9 inhibition, potentially lowering barriers for oral SCD treatments versus infusions, while competing with big pharma entrants.[1][4]
Imara's path forward centers on IMR-687 data readouts, regulatory submissions, and pipeline diversification into cardiovascular indications, with cash supporting near-term milestones.[1] Trends like AI-driven drug discovery and SCD equity initiatives will shape progress, potentially amplifying impact if Phase 3 succeeds.[1][6] Influence may evolve via acquisitions by larger players eyeing bolt-on rare disease assets, tying back to its core mission of novel hemoglobin therapies amid a validating market.[1][3]
