Trius Therapeutics, Inc. announced last week the close of a $30 million Series B financing to advance the clinical development of its best-in-class oxazolidinone antibacterial drug TR-701, now completing Phase I testing. The financing was led by Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield and Byers (KPCB). New investor FinTech Global Capital participated in the round, along with all existing investors – Sofinnova Ventures, Versant Ventures, Interwest Partners and Prism VentureWorks.

Trius‘ TR-701 lead molecule is a second generation oxazolidinone antibacterial prodrug. It is a potent inhibitor of Gram positive bacterial pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococccus aureus (MRSA) and is also active against pathogens that have developed resistance to first generation oxazolidinones such as linezolid-resistant Staphylococccus aureus (LRSA) and linezolid-resistant Enterococcus spp. (LRE). With a long half-life, high bioavailability and solubility and high potency, TR-701 will provide clinicians with flexible dosing and a possible shorter course of therapy thereby enabling the early transition of hospitalized patients from IV to oral treatment and subsequent early discharge from the hospital. Trius Therapeutics has exclusive worldwide rights from Dong-A outside of Korea to the TR-701 program and has initiated clinical studies in the U.S.

Image from Trius Therapeutics

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