ASTRA Therapeutics secures close to US$10M to advance precision parasiticides for animal health

SWITZERLAND –  ASTRA Therapeutics AGa, a Swiss biotechnology company with a focus on applications in animal health, has raised CHF 7.75 million (US$9.53 million) in seed funding to speed up the development of precision parasiticides for animal health. 

The financing aims to address a growing global demand for safer and more effective treatments against drug-resistant parasites threatening pets, livestock, and food production systems.

The round was co-led by Germany’s MIG Capital AG and US-based Digitalis Ventures, each contributing CHF 3 million. Additional funding came from Borealis Ventures, Kickfund, and Venture Kick.

Founded in 2022 by structural biologists Dr. Natacha Gaillard and Dr. Ashwani Sharma, ASTRA Therapeutics is leveraging its proprietary ParaX® platform to design Parabulins®, a new class of drugs that selectively target parasite-specific tubulin while sparing host cells. 

The approach stems from over a decade of research into structural differences in tubulin, a protein essential for cell division.

“The animal health market is facing an ever-increasing need for novel anti-parasite drugs to combat the growing threat of drug resistance, ensure the health and welfare of our pets, and maintain healthy and efficient food production,” said Dr. Gaillard.

Addressing drug resistance in a US$10 billion market

The global parasiticide market, valued at over US$10 billion and growing at 5.6% annually, faces mounting challenges as established products lose patent protection and resistance rates rise. 

In some regions, up to 98% of heartworm cases in pets are already resistant to standard treatments, creating an urgent need for innovation.

Dr. Sharma explained: “Our platform is designed to exploit structural differences between essential proteins in parasites and the host animals, enabling creation of new drugs that should be both effective and safe.”

MIG Capital Partner Andreas Kastenbauer said the company is uniquely positioned to deliver market-ready solutions.

“We see tremendous commercial potential for new drugs that control worms, including heartworm in dogs and cats, and coccidiosis in poultry and swine production,” he noted. 

“With renowned structural biologists Dr. Natacha Gaillard and Dr. Ashwani Sharma in the lead and strong support from a team of market and business developers experienced in drug discovery, licensing and biotech financing, this is the right company to achieve success.”

From lab discovery to market potential

ASTRA Therapeutics’ ParaX® platform aims to redefine precision in parasite treatment by minimising harm to the host while effectively combating eukaryotic pathogens- organisms responsible for disease in animals, humans, and crops.

The company is headquartered at the Park InnovAARE innovation campus in Villigen, Switzerland, a hub for scientific and commercial collaboration. 

With its fresh infusion of capital, ASTRA plans to advance its drug pipeline toward preclinical and clinical milestones, potentially transforming the treatment landscape for some of the most persistent and economically damaging parasitic diseases in the animal health sector.

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