SFA Therapeutics
YC S21Philadelphia, US · Founded 2016 · 4 employees · 6 known investors
SFA Therapeutics develops oral therapeutic candidates based on deuterated short-chain fatty acids to treat autoimmune and oncologic diseases. The company's lead program, SFA-002, is in Phase 2 development for plaque psoriasis, with additional pipeline assets targeting pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Also known as SFA Therapeutics, Inc.
BiotechHealthtechAI-powered Drug DiscoveryAnti-AgingHealth & WellnessBiotechnologyUnited States of AmericaAmerica / CanadaPartly Remote
Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (S21)
SFA Therapeutics was founded in 2016 by Ira Spector, Alla Arzumanyan, and Mark Feitelson.
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Ira SpectorinCo-founder · CEOCo-founder of SFA Therapeutics, a microbiome-focused pharmaceutical company. Dr. Spector has over 30 years of drug development experience, including roles in bringing multiple therapeutics and medical devices to market; he holds BS degrees in Physics and Electrical Engineering from Washington University, an MBA from Drexel, and a PhD from Rutgers.
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Alla ArzumanyaninChief Development Officer, Co-founder & Co-inventorAlla Arzumanyan holds a master's degree in microbiology and a PhD in biotechnology, and previously served as an assistant professor at Temple University. She is a co-founder of SFA Therapeutics and has led clinical research and regulatory development work on the company's therapeutic programs.
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Mark Feitelsonin𝕏FounderMark Feitelson holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology/Immunology from UCLA and has conducted research on hepatitis B at Stanford University and Fox Chase Cancer Center before joining Temple University as a Professor of Biology. He serves as Chief Scientific Officer of SFA Therapeutics.
Investors · 6
The YC application· Summer 2021 batch
What they told YC
- What is your company going to make? Please describe your product and what it does or will do.
- SFA Therapeutics is a biotech company developing small-molecule drugs derived from human GI bacterial metabolites that modulate the immune system by downregulating the NF-kB and Ras pathways involved in inflammation and carcinogenesis. The platform has yielded six drug candidates for immuno-inflammatory diseases and inflammation-driven liver diseases, with lead assets SFA001 (liver disease) and SFA002 (autoimmune disease); SFA002 has an approved IND and is ready for clinical trials. The company plans to develop its drugs through Phase 2 and license Phase 3-ready assets to pharma and biotech partners in exchange for license fees, royalties, and milestone payments.
Alumni Q&A
- What is the core problem you are solving? Why is this a big problem? What made you decide to work on it?
- The founders aim to treat autoimmune disease by addressing the underlying disease rather than suppressing the immune system.
- What is your long-term vision? If you truly succeed, what will be different about the world?
- The company's long-term goal is to achieve functional cures for autoimmune diseases.
Summarized from the founders' answers on their Y Combinator profile.
Competitors · 4
by search overlapSarepta Therapeutics4 shared keywordsSarepta develops precision genetic medicines for people with rare diseases, with a focus on rare neuromuscular conditions. The company also runs an investigator-initiated studies program that funds independent clinical and non-clinical research in its therapeutic areas.
Samsara4 shared keywordsSamsara Therapeutics develops small-molecule therapeutics that activate autophagy to slow the progression of age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, Parkinson's, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. It runs an in-house phenotypic screening platform using patient-derived iPSCs to identify and validate autophagy activators for drug discovery.
Seraphina Therapeutics4 shared keywordsSeraphina Therapeutics develops food- and nature-based consumer health products, starting with the fatty acid C15:0 (pentadecanoic acid), aimed at replenishing micronutrients and metabolites that decline with age. The company focuses on evidence-based nutritional science for consumer wellness.
Star Therapeutics3 shared keywordsStar Therapeutics develops treatments aimed at addressing real-world patient needs.
Companies competing with SFA Therapeutics for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
In the news
Frequently asked questions
- What does SFA Therapeutics do?
- SFA Therapeutics develops oral therapeutic candidates based on deuterated short-chain fatty acids to treat autoimmune and oncologic diseases. The company's lead program, SFA-002, is in Phase 2 development for plaque psoriasis, with additional pipeline assets targeting pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
- Who founded SFA Therapeutics?
- SFA Therapeutics was founded by Ira Spector, Alla Arzumanyan, Mark Feitelson in 2016.
- Who are SFA Therapeutics's investors?
- SFA Therapeutics's investors include Acequia Capital (AceCap), Farvatn Venture, Immeasurable, North South Ventures, Y Combinator, Ben Franklin Technology Partners.
- Where is SFA Therapeutics headquartered?
- SFA Therapeutics is headquartered in Philadelphia, US.