What Olatec Therapeutics does

Olatec Therapeutics is a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a platform of oral NLRP3 antagonist therapeutics to treat and prevent acute and chronic inflammatory diseases mediated by Interleukin-1. The company's lead compound, dapansutrile (OLT1177®), is a selective small-molecule inhibitor that binds NLRP3 to prevent formation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, thereby inhibiting production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18. Dapansutrile is described as the only known selective NLRP3 inhibitor in Phase 2 clinical trials in the US and Europe, and Olatec's broader platform includes approximately 40–60 structurally related OLT Analogues protected by a portfolio of over 180 patents and patent applications globally.

The company is advancing dapansutrile in parallel Phase 2 programs across multiple indications: gout (PODAGRA-II), Parkinson's disease (DAPA-PD at Cambridge University Hospitals), type 2 diabetes (DAPAN-DIA at University Hospital Basel), and PD-1 refractory advanced melanoma in combination with pembrolizumab (DREAM at Duke Cancer Institute, in collaboration with Merck). Earlier-stage work includes a Phase 1b heart failure trial that met safety and biomarker endpoints, preclinical Parkinson's data, and a topical gel formulation that has completed Phase 2 in knee osteoarthritis. The company is led by Founder/CEO Damaris B. Skouras, with scientific leadership from co-CSOs Charles A. Dinarello (recipient of the 2020 Tang Prize in Biopharmaceutical Science) and Joseph St. Laurent.

Olatec is headquartered in New York with a wholly-owned subsidiary, Olatec Therapeutics BV, in the Netherlands, and conducts operations across the US and Europe. The company has raised over $75 million in private capital since inception, anchored by a $40 million Series A in February 2023 led by Sanders Morris Harris, supplemented by non-dilutive funding from The Michael J. Fox Foundation, Cure Parkinson's, Van Andel Institute, the EU Horizon Europe Programme, and the Swiss Government. As a pre-revenue clinical-stage company, Olatec does not currently sell approved products; commercial revenue is expected upon potential future regulatory approval and commercialization of dapansutrile or other platform assets.

Name

Olatec Therapeutics

Legal name

Olatec Therapeutics LLC

Website

https://olatec.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Olatec Therapeutics is a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing oral selective NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors led by dapansutrile (OLT1177®) to treat acute and chronic inflammatory diseases, with Phase 2 trials ongoing in gout, Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, and melanoma.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Development and Commercialization: Olatec is a pre-revenue clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. The company is developing dapansutrile across multiple inflammatory disease indications including gout, Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and melanoma. Revenue will be generated through future product sales upon regulatory approval and commercialization.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Olatec Therapeutics is a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing dapansutrile (OLT1177®), an oral selective NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor that blocks the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18, for the treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases including gout, heart failure, type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, melanoma, and other IL-1 mediated conditions. The company also maintains a broader platform of approximately 40-60 structurally related OLT Analogues.

Product overview

Olatec Therapeutics is a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing a platform of oral NLRP3 antagonist therapeutics. The company's core product is dapansutrile (lab code: OLT1177®), the only known selective NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor in Phase 2 clinical trials. In addition to dapansutrile, the platform includes approximately 40-60 structurally related OLT Analogues. The company is developing dapansutrile across multiple inflammatory disease indications including acute gout flares (PODAGRA trials), heart failure, type 2 diabetes (DAPAN-DIA), Parkinson's disease (DAPA-PD), and oncology (DREAM trial with pembrolizumab in melanoma). The company also developed a topical gel formulation of dapansutrile for osteoarthritis which completed Phase 2 trials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OLT1177®: Pharmaceutical grade formulation of dapansutrile, a registered trademark of Olatec Therapeutics in the United States and other countries.

Products and services

• Dapansutrile (OLT1177®) Dapansutrile (lab code: OLT1177®) is Olatec's lead compound — an oral, selective small-molecule NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor that prevents formation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and inhibits production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18. It is being developed for patients with acute and chronic inflammatory diseases mediated by Interleukin-1, including acute gout flares (PODAGRA trials), heart failure, type 2 diabetes (DAPAN-DIA), Parkinson's disease (DAPA-PD), and advanced melanoma (DREAM trial in combination with pembrolizumab).
• OLT Analogues Platform Platform of approximately 40-60 structurally related NLRP3 inhibitor compounds (OLT Analogues), representing a new class of pharmaceuticals for treating inflammatory diseases beyond the lead compound dapansutrile. Protected by a global patent portfolio of more than 180 patents and patent applications.
• OLT1177® Gel (Topical Dapansutrile) Topical gel formulation of dapansutrile (OLT1177®) that has completed Phase 2 clinical trials for treatment of moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis of the knee.

Quantifiable outcome

• Phase 2a gout trial met primary and secondary endpoints demonstrating clinical benefit, safety, and reduction in systemic inflammation
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust / University of CambridgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DAPA-PD Phase 2 clinical trial is being conducted at Cambridge University Hospitals under principal investigator Dr. Caroline Williams-Gray. The trial evaluates dapansutrile safety, tolerability, inflammation biomarkers, and preliminary efficacy over 12 months in early-stage Parkinson's disease patients.
• Medical University of InnsbruckcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Dr. Nadia Stefanova at the Medical University of Innsbruck for preclinical Parkinson's disease studies funded by The Michael J. Fox Foundation, assessing dapansutrile's effects on motor symptoms and neuroinflammation in transgenic mouse models.
• Duke Cancer InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DREAM Trial (Phase 1/2) evaluating dapansutrile in combination with pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in patients with PD-1 refractory advanced melanoma is being led by Principal Investigator April Salama MD at The Duke Cancer Institute.
• Merck & Co., Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerck supports the DREAM Trial investigating dapansutrile (OLT1177) in combination with pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for PD-1 refractory advanced melanoma. The collaboration addresses inflammatory-driven resistance to anti-PD-1 therapies.
• University Hospital Basel / University of BaselcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Marc Donath, Chief Physician in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at University of Basel, serves as Principal Investigator for the DAPAN-DIA Phase 2 trial in type 2 diabetes. Dr. Donath was recently appointed Medical Director of the Diabetes Centre at University Hospital Montreal.
• National Jewish HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with National Jewish Health for the Phase 2 clinical trial of dapansutrile in COVID-19, led by Principal Investigator Dr. Michael Wechsler.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• AnaptysBio: Clinical-stage immunology biotech developing IL-1 pathway antibodies (e.g., anti-IL-1R). Comparable as an inflammation-focused biotech targeting the same IL-1 axis Olatec's NLRP3 platform modulates.
• Quench Bio: Emerging biotech focused on NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition for inflammatory diseases. Comparable as an early-stage player targeting the same pathway with selective small-molecule approaches.
• ChemoCentryx (Amgen): Developed avacopan (Tavneos), an anti-C5aR therapy addressing IL-1-driven inflammation, and was acquired by Amgen in 2022. Comparable as an IL-1 pathway-adjacent biotech commercializing inflammation therapeutics.
• Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals: Commercial-stage immunology biotech with multiple inflammation assets. Comparable as a clinical-to-commercial-stage company developing therapeutics for IL-1-mediated and other inflammatory diseases.

Direct peers

• IFM Therapeutics (now Bristol-Myers Squibb): IFM developed small-molecule NLRP3 inhibitors (IFM-2427/NDPK-A) and was acquired by BMS in 2017 for up to $2.3B. It is the most direct competitor in the selective oral NLRP3 space, with deeper resources behind the same target Olatec is pursuing.
• Inflazome (now Roche): Inflazome developed brain-penetrant NLRP3 inhibitors and was acquired by Roche in 2020 for €380M. It is the closest direct peer in NLRP3 inhibition with a similar small-molecule, orally bioavailable approach across inflammatory diseases.
• NodThera: Private UK-based biotech developing brain-penetrant NLRP3 inhibitors for inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. Directly comparable to Olatec as a clinical-stage, venture-backed NLRP3 platform play.

Broad incumbents

• Novartis: Acquired IFM Tre's NLRP3 program from BMS in 2019 and is advancing multiple NLRP3 candidates. Comparable as a broad incumbent developing selective NLRP3 inhibitors across inflammatory indications.
• Bristol-Myers Squibb: Holds the IFM Tre-derived NLRP3 program following its 2017 acquisition of IFM Therapeutics. As a large incumbent with multiple NLRP3 candidates in development, BMS represents a key competitive and potential M&A counterparty.

Regional players

• Zydus Cadila: Indian pharmaceutical company developing its own NLRP3 inhibitor program. Comparable as a regional player pursuing the same target class, though primarily serving the Indian market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OlatecThera

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds11 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Olatec Therapeutics