Celea Therapeutics Secures $180m to Advance Phase III IPF Programme

Funding will support the global SURPASS-IPF trial comparing deupirfenidone directly against standard-of-care pirfenidone in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Celea Therapeutics has raised $180 million in new financing to support the initiation of its pivotal Phase III SURPASS-IPF clinical trial evaluating deupirfenidone (LYT-100) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

The funding round brings together a consortium of investors including RA Capital Management, PureTech Health, Leaps by Bayer, a major US healthcare fund, and a sovereign wealth fund, reflecting strong confidence in the programme’s late-stage potential.

Advancing a Next-Generation Antifibrotic Therapy

Deupirfenidone is a deuterated form of pirfenidone, designed to improve tolerability and pharmacokinetics compared with existing antifibrotic therapies.

It is being developed as a potential new standard of care for IPF, a progressive and fatal lung disease characterised by irreversible fibrosis and declining respiratory function.

Currently approved treatments, including pirfenidone and nintedanib, can slow disease progression but are often limited by gastrointestinal side effects and suboptimal dosing adherence.

Phase III Trial to Compare Directly Against Standard of Care

The upcoming SURPASS-IPF Phase III trial is expected to begin in early Q3 2026.

It will be a randomised, double-blind, head-to-head global study, comparing:

• Deupirfenidone 825mg three times daily (TID)

  vs

• Pirfenidone 801mg three times daily (TID)
  

The study will enrol adults with IPF who are not receiving background antifibrotic therapy.

The primary endpoint will measure change from baseline in absolute forced vital capacity (FVC) at week 52, a key indicator of lung function decline.

Clinical Rationale and Early Data

Deupirfenidone has already received Orphan Drug Designation from both the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Commission.

Earlier data from the Phase IIb ELEVATE IPF trial suggested the therapy may stabilise lung function decline over at least 26 weeks when used as monotherapy.

Open-label extension results further indicated that treatment effects could be sustained for at least 52 weeks, supporting progression into late-stage development.

Leadership Perspective

Celea Therapeutics CEO Sven Dethlefs said the funding represents a critical step in addressing a disease with significant unmet need.

He noted that IPF remains a devastating condition with limited treatment options and highlighted the potential for deupirfenidone to deliver meaningful improvements in patient outcomes.

Expanding Potential Beyond IPF

Beyond idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, Celea is also exploring the potential of deupirfenidone in other fibrotic conditions, including progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases, suggesting a broader future development strategy.

Summary

Celea Therapeutics has secured $180 million to advance its Phase III SURPASS-IPF trial evaluating deupirfenidone in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The head-to-head study against pirfenidone will begin in early Q3 2026 and represents a key step in determining whether the next-generation antifibrotic can redefine treatment standards in a disease with limited therapeutic options.

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