PureTech-Backed Celea Raises $180m to Challenge Established IPF Treatments

New funding will support a pivotal Phase III trial comparing deupirfenidone head-to-head with Roche’s Esbriet as competition intensifies in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Celea Therapeutics has secured $180 million in financing to advance its lead investigational therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), less than a year after being spun out by PureTech Health.

The funding round was backed by PureTech Health, which retains a 35.4% stake in the company, alongside RA Capital Management and Leaps by Bayer. The capital will primarily support the global Phase III SURPASS-IPF trial, which will directly compare Celea's lead candidate, deupirfenidone (LYT-100), against Roche's established IPF therapy Esbriet (pirfenidone).

Taking Aim at the Limitations of Current IPF Therapies

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive and ultimately fatal lung disease characterised by irreversible scarring of lung tissue and a steady decline in respiratory function.

While current antifibrotic therapies, including Roche's Esbriet and Boehringer Ingelheim's Ofev (nintedanib), can slow disease progression, their widespread use has been limited by gastrointestinal side effects that often prevent patients from remaining on optimal doses.

According to PureTech, only around a quarter of eligible IPF patients in the United States currently receive either therapy, despite the treatments collectively generating peak global sales exceeding $5 billion.

Celea believes its investigational therapy could address this gap.

Deuterium Technology Could Improve Tolerability

Deupirfenidone is a deuterated version of pirfenidone, meaning selected hydrogen atoms have been replaced with the heavier isotope deuterium.

This subtle chemical modification can alter how the drug is metabolised by the body, potentially increasing drug exposure while reducing side effects without changing its underlying mechanism of action.

The company hopes these pharmacological advantages will allow patients to remain on effective treatment for longer while improving overall tolerability.

Phase II Results Build Confidence Ahead of Pivotal Study

Encouraging mid-stage clinical data has strengthened confidence in the programme.

In the Phase IIb ELEVATE IPF study, deupirfenidone demonstrated lower rates of common gastrointestinal adverse events than Esbriet while meeting its primary endpoint.

Patients receiving the therapy experienced a statistically significant reduction in the decline of forced vital capacity (FVC) over 26 weeks, representing an 80.9% treatment effect compared with placebo.

The results prompted former PureTech CEO Bharatt Chowrira to describe the findings as "remarkable" if replicated in a larger Phase III programme.

That validation effort is now set to begin.

SURPASS-IPF Trial Set to Launch

Celea plans to initiate the global SURPASS-IPF study during the third quarter of 2026.

The randomised Phase III trial will compare deupirfenidone administered three times daily against Esbriet in adults with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who are not receiving background therapy.

The primary endpoint will assess change from baseline in forced vital capacity at 52 weeks, a widely accepted measure of lung function decline in IPF studies.

A positive outcome could position deupirfenidone as a potential next-generation antifibrotic therapy capable of improving both efficacy and patient adherence.

Competition in IPF Continues to Intensify

Celea enters a rapidly evolving treatment landscape.

Last year, Boehringer Ingelheim's Jascayd (nerandomilast) became the third FDA-approved therapy for IPF, offering a twice-daily oral treatment with an improved tolerability profile and no routine liver function monitoring requirements.

Meanwhile, United Therapeutics is preparing regulatory submissions for an inhaled formulation of Tyvaso (treprostinil) after positive Phase III results, while Avalyn Pharma is advancing inhaled versions of both pirfenidone and nintedanib in mid-stage clinical development following its recent IPO.

As multiple companies pursue differentiated approaches, the next generation of IPF therapies is increasingly focused on improving tolerability, convenience and long-term adherence rather than simply slowing disease progression.

Why the Funding Matters

Celea's financing reflects continued investor confidence in pulmonary medicine despite growing competition.

The funding will allow the company to generate the pivotal data needed to determine whether deupirfenidone can improve upon one of the current standards of care while addressing one of IPF's biggest treatment challenges: keeping patients on therapy.

Summary

Celea Therapeutics has raised $180 million to fund the pivotal Phase III SURPASS-IPF trial of deupirfenidone, a next-generation version of Roche's Esbriet designed to improve tolerability without compromising efficacy.

Supported by strong Phase II data, the programme will now enter head-to-head testing against one of the leading IPF therapies as competition intensifies across the pulmonary fibrosis market.