Elion Therapeutics
New York, US · Founded 2017 · Delaware corporation · 18 employees on LinkedIn · 4 known investors
Clinical-stage biotech developing next-generation polyene antifungals for life-threatening invasive fungal infections.
Also known as Sfunga Therapeutics
Founders & leadership
Board
Investors · 4
Also in the syndicate · 1
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$25.4M disclosed across 1 of 2 rounds · 2024
▶$25.4MraisedJun 2024 · 6 investors · BiotechnologyRule 506(b)
- Jim FlynnDirector
- Kieren MarrExecutive Officer, Director
- Martin HeideckerDirector
- Jonathan LeffDirector
- Offering amount
- $83.8M
- Amount sold
- $25.4M
- First sale
- Jun 2024
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Elion Therapeutics, formerly known as Sfunga Therapeutics, is a New York-based biotechnology company focused on the treatment of life-threatening invasive fungal infections (IFIs). Its lead clinical-stage candidate, SF001, is a next-generation polyene antifungal — a novel analog of amphotericin B (AmB) rationally designed to increase specificity to fungal cells and mitigate the systemic and renal toxicities associated with the existing drug class. The company was founded on the premise that mechanistic insights into natural products enable targeted optimization of those molecules.
SF001 completed a first-in-human single-ascending dose study and, as of mid-2024, was being evaluated in a multiple-ascending dose study. In 2023, the candidate received Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) and Fast Track designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for early antifungal therapy of presumed invasive fungal disease and for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis. A later report indicates the company initiated a Phase 2 study of turletricin (EL219) in invasive mould infection.
The company frames the market need around the limited number of available antifungal drug classes (four), growing antifungal resistance, organ toxicities and drug-drug interactions. It cites more than 150 million people worldwide suffering from serious fungal infections and roughly 2.5 million annual deaths from severe, life-threatening fungal infections, with risk concentrated among immunocompromised patients (HIV/AIDS, cancer therapy, organ transplant) and those with severe lung disease.
Founding story
Kieren Marr, M.D., M.B.A., is a co-founder of Elion and an expert in fungal diseases; she served as Director of Transplant and Oncology Infectious Diseases at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine until 2022, when she became Elion's Chief Medical Officer and recruited the current leadership team. The company was founded on the belief that mechanistic insights enable targeted optimizations of natural products.
Traction
SF001 completed a first-in-human single-ascending dose study and moved into a multiple-ascending dose study; it holds FDA QIDP and Fast Track designations granted in 2023. A Phase 2 study of turletricin (EL219) in invasive mould infection was reported as initiated in April 2026.
Latest developments
Reporting from April 2026 describes the initiation of a Phase 2 study of turletricin (EL219) in invasive mould infection. The most recent disclosed financing is the $81 million Series B closed in June 2024, led by Deerfield Management and the AMR Action Fund with participation from Illinois Ventures.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Elion positions itself as developing the first polyene antifungal rationally designed to mitigate toxicities, in a field where only four classes of antifungal drugs are currently available and where resistance and toxicity limit existing options. Its team is described as having been involved in the development of most currently available antifungal agents. The World Health Organization has identified four fungal pathogens as a 'critical priority,' including Aspergillus fumigatus.
Technology
Elion's approach applies mechanistic understanding of natural products to redesign them for improved therapeutic profiles. Its lead molecule is a novel analog of amphotericin B, a highly efficacious polyene natural product in use since the 1950s that causes kidney impairment in up to 80 percent of patients. SF001 was rationally designed for increased specificity to fungal cells in order to mitigate renal and other systemic toxicities while retaining polyene antifungal activity.
Go-to-market
Patients with invasive fungal infections, typically individuals with compromised immune systems due to HIV/AIDS, cancer therapies or organ transplants, or those with severe lung disease, including disease following influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infection; indications pursued include presumed invasive fungal disease and invasive aspergillosis.
Geography
Headquartered in New York, with clinical development oriented toward U.S. regulatory pathways via the FDA.
History
The company previously operated under the name Sfunga Therapeutics before rebranding as Elion Therapeutics. In 2023 its lead candidate SF001 received QIDP and Fast Track designations from the FDA. In June 2024 the company closed an $81 million Series B financing led by Deerfield Management and the AMR Action Fund to advance SF001, which had completed a first-in-human single-ascending dose study and entered a multiple-ascending dose study. Coverage from April 2026 reports the initiation of a Phase 2 study of turletricin (EL219) in invasive mould infection.
Compiled by commissioned research from 3 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Competitors · 3
by search overlap
Companies competing with Elion Therapeutics for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
Timeline · 4
launches, deals, and filingsElion Therapeutics announced the initiation of a Phase 2 study of turletricin (EL219) in invasive mould infection.
Elion Therapeutics (formerly Sfunga Therapeutics) closed an $81 million Series B led by Deerfield Management and the AMR Action Fund, with additional investor Illinois Ventures, to support advancement of SF001.
$81M source ↗
SF001 received Qualified Infectious Disease Product and Fast Track designations from the U.S. FDA for early antifungal therapy of presumed invasive fungal disease and treatment of invasive aspergillosis.
Co-founder Kieren Marr left her role as Director of Transplant and Oncology Infectious Diseases at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 2022 to become Elion's Chief Medical Officer and recruited the current leadership team.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
Legal entities · 1
corporate structure▸Research sources · 3
primary sources listed
- Elion Therapeutics Closes $81 Million Series B Funding Round Led by Deerfield Management and AMR Action Fundprnewswire.com · web
3 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Elion Therapeutics do?
- Clinical-stage biotech developing next-generation polyene antifungals for life-threatening invasive fungal infections.
- Who are Elion Therapeutics's investors?
- Elion Therapeutics's investors include AMR Action Fund, Illinois Ventures, Deerfield Management Company.
- How much funding has Elion Therapeutics raised?
- Elion Therapeutics has disclosed $25.4M raised across 1 of its 2 known rounds.
- Where is Elion Therapeutics headquartered?
- Elion Therapeutics is headquartered in New York, US.