MetrioPharm

What MetrioPharm does

MetrioPharm AG is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing MP1032, a first-in-class oral small molecule positioned as a self-regulating immunomodulator. Founded in 2007, the company is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland with research and development operations in Berlin, Germany, and operates as a privately held entity with 11-50 employees. Its lead clinical indication is Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), supported by both FDA Orphan Drug Designation (May 2023) and EMA Orphan Drug Designation (July 2025), alongside a broader inflammatory disease pipeline targeting rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, IBD, and sepsis.

The company's core technology centers on MP1032, a small molecule designed to modulate immune responses in a self-regulating manner, reducing pro-inflammatory signaling without inducing broad immunosuppression. Substance patents for MP1032 have been granted in more than nine countries, and the company has also received FDA Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for the DMD program, providing multiple layers of regulatory and intangible-asset protection around the lead asset. The company has explored COVID-19 as a proof-of-mechanism indication, with Phase IIa positive results published in Lancet Regional Health Europe (2024), providing clinical validation of the immunomodulatory mechanism.

MetrioPharm's business model is typical of clinical-stage biotech: the company is pre-revenue and depends on equity financings and non-dilutive grants to advance its pipeline, including a EUR 7.9 million EU HERA Incubator award secured in November 2021. Future revenue is expected to come through licensing transactions, partnerships, or eventual commercialization of MP1032 across multiple inflammatory indications. The company has undergone leadership transitions including a new CEO (Thomas Christély, October 2021) and CMO/CSO appointments in 2025-2026 to support late-stage clinical development.

Name

MetrioPharm

Legal name

MetrioPharm AG

Website

https://metriopharm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MetrioPharm AG is a Zurich-based, privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing MP1032, a first-in-class oral self-regulating immunomodulator. Its lead indication is Duchenne muscular dystrophy, with a broader pipeline targeting inflammatory conditions including arthritis and psoriasis.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clinical-Stage Biopharmaceuticals

NAICS

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Immunology & Autoimmune Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC)

Keywords

• Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical
• Small molecule immunomodulators
• Corticosteroid-sparing therapy
• Orphan disease drug development
• Anti-inflammatory therapeutics

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Drug Development and Licensing: As a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, MetrioPharm generates no current revenue. The company's business model centers on developing its lead compound MP1032 through clinical stages (Phase I completed, Phase IIa completed in Psoriasis and COVID-19) toward market authorization. Revenue is expected to be generated through out-licensing partnerships with large pharmaceutical companies for commercialization across multiple indications, and through potential co-development arrangements. The company is also exploring Fixed-Dose Combination therapies combining MP1032 with lower doses of generic standard therapies to create novel medications with improved efficacy, fewer side effects, and renewed or extended patent protection.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

MetrioPharm AG is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing MP1032, a first-in-class oral small molecule self-regulating immunomodulator (ROS scavenger) that normalizes pathologically reprogrammed mitochondrial energy metabolism in macrophages without causing immunosuppression. The company focuses on advancing MP1032 through clinical development for rare/orphan indications such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), with the intent to out-license or co-develop the compound with larger pharmaceutical partners for commercialization across multiple indications including psoriasis, COVID-19, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and sepsis.

Product overview

MetrioPharm AG is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class self-regulating immunomodulators for inflammatory and infectious diseases. The company's product portfolio consists of two main offerings: the MP1000 Platform (a proprietary technology platform of oral small molecule immune modulators) and its lead compound MP1032 (the primary drug candidate developed on this platform). MP1032 is a first-in-class ROS scavenger that normalizes pathologically reprogrammed cellular/mitochondrial energy metabolism in inflammatory immune cells without causing immunosuppression. The platform enables corticosteroid-sparing therapies with efficacy comparable to corticosteroids but without serious side effects. The company is currently focused on rare diseases including Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, with additional development in psoriasis, COVID-19, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and sepsis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MP1032 MP1032 is MetrioPharm's lead drug candidate — an oral small molecule that acts as a self-regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger, normalizing pathologically reprogrammed mitochondrial energy metabolism in inflammatory immune cells (e.g., macrophages) without causing immunosuppression. It is being developed as a corticosteroid-sparing therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and other inflammatory/autoimmune and infectious diseases, with demonstrated efficacy in Phase IIa studies in Psoriasis and COVID-19.
• MP1000 Platform The MP1000 Platform is MetrioPharm's proprietary technology platform of oral small molecule immune modulators that target the pathologically dysregulated (reprogrammed) mitochondrial metabolism in macrophages and other immune cells. The platform enables development of self-regulating immunomodulators without immunosuppressive effects and serves as the foundation for the company's pipeline including MP1032.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average 2.4 days earlier hospital discharge and 4 days shorter ICU stay for COVID-19 patients treated with MP1032 vs. placebo in Phase IIa study
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• iMPact Consortium Partners (ImmunoLogik, Catalyze, MC Toxicology Consulting)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021MetrioPharm leads the iMPact project consortium consisting of three additional partners: ImmunoLogik, Catalyze, and MC Toxicology Consulting. The consortium was formed to conduct the international COVID-19 research project including the Phase II clinical trial and preclinical studies on SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sarepta Therapeutics: U.S.-listed commercial-stage biotech focused on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy with approved gene therapies (Elevidys) and antisense oligonucleotides. Directly comparable DMD franchise with orphan designations and rare disease regulatory pathway; serves as a commercial benchmark for what a successful DMD asset can become.
• PTC Therapeutics: U.S.-listed rare disease company with multiple DMD assets (Translarna, Emflaza) and a broader pipeline in inflammation and metabolic disorders. Closely comparable business model of orphan drug development, EMA/FDA regulatory navigation, and pipeline diversification from a DMD anchor.
• Santhera Pharmaceuticals: Swiss-listed rare disease company developing therapies for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (e.g., vamorolone) and other neuromuscular disorders. Highly comparable as a small-cap European clinical-stage DMD specialist pursuing similar orphan regulatory pathways and out-licensing economics.
• BioMarin Pharmaceutical: Established rare disease specialty pharma with multiple approved orphan drugs across neuromuscular and metabolic conditions. Comparable in pursuing small-molecule and biologic therapies for rare inflammatory/genetic diseases via accelerated regulatory pathways.
• Reata Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-to-commercial rare disease company developing small-molecule therapies targeting inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction (Skyclarys for Friedreich's ataxia). Highly comparable mechanistic and therapeutic-area overlap with MetrioPharm's ROS/mitochondrial platform.
• Inflarx NV: European clinical-stage biotech developing first-in-class anti-inflammatory therapeutics (e.g., vilobelimab) targeting the complement system. Comparable as a small-cap inflammation-focused company pursuing novel mechanisms for rare and chronic inflammatory diseases.
• Galapagos NV: European clinical-stage biotech historically focused on small-molecule immunology (JAK1 inhibitor filgotinib). Comparable as a mid-sized European inflammation-focused drug developer with similar out-licensing and partnership business model.
• Catabasis Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage rare disease company developing small molecules for DMD (edasalonexent) and inflammatory conditions. Direct comparable in targeting inflammatory pathways for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy with novel mechanisms, and a cautionary tale on clinical execution.

Broad incumbents

• AbbVie: Large incumbent immunology pharma with Humira, Rinvoq, and Skyrizi dominating anti-inflammatory markets. Represents the competitive standard-of-care and a likely out-licensing/acquisition counterparty for MP1032 in autoimmune indications.
• Horizon Therapeutics (Amgen): Specialty rare and inflammatory disease pharma (now part of Amgen) with assets in gout, thyroid eye disease, and autoimmune conditions. Comparable as a rare/inflammatory disease-focused commercial-stage player and potential BD partner for orphan-designated assets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xxing.com/companies/metriopharm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/metriopharm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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 MetrioPharm