BOSTON– Syntis Bio has raised $38 million in new funding to support the development of its experimental oral therapies for obesity and rare metabolic disorders. The total includes a $33 million oversubscribed Series A round, led by Cerberus Ventures, and up to $5 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The funding will help advance the company’s lead drug candidate, SYNT-101, an oral treatment for obesity currently in Phase 1 trials. A second program, SYNT-202, targets homocystinuria, a rare pediatric condition, and is expected to enter clinical trials soon.
Syntis is developing a synthetic tissue-lining (SYNT™) technology designed to coat the small intestine temporarily. This coating controls nutrient absorption, enhances the activity of gut-restricted enzymes, and improves drug absorption. Early preclinical studies suggest SYNT-101 could replicate some of the effects of gastric bypass surgery—like triggering satiety hormones—without requiring surgery.
CEO and co-founder Rahul Dhanda said the funding will accelerate work on Syntis’s platform and pipeline. “We’re focused on unlocking the small intestine’s potential as a site for treating both common and rare diseases with safe, effective oral therapies,” he said.
Two new board members also join the company: Chenny Zhang from Cerberus Ventures and Michael Nannizzi from W. R. Berkley Corporation. Both firms are investors in the round.
The NIH grants come through the Small Business Innovation Research program and were awarded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The company says it has already conducted over 100 preclinical studies and is now expanding human testing of its platform.
