What MDI Therapeutics does

MDI Therapeutics, Inc. is a privately held, clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing first-in-class orally available small-molecule inhibitors of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) for the treatment of fibrosis and fibroproliferative diseases. The company was founded on key enabling technologies developed at the University of Michigan by founder Daniel A. Lawrence, PhD — a recognized world leader in serpin biology who was a member of the team that originally cloned and purified PAI-1. Its lead program, MDI-2517, is a potent, orally bioavailable PAI-1 inhibitor currently undergoing Phase 1 clinical evaluation for safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics, with first participants dosed in June 2024. The scientific rationale rests on PAI-1's role as a conformationally driven regulator of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic processes; no approved drugs are known to directly inhibit PAI-1, making this a novel mechanism-of-action approach.

The company operates with a lean 1–10 person team headquartered in Novi, Michigan, and is led by CEO Gillian Dines (also Chief Science Officer of Juvenescence Limited) alongside a Big Pharma–experienced executive bench including CMO Mark Weinberg, MD. It is pre-revenue, with future monetization dependent on either out-licensing, partnership-driven milestone payments, or eventual commercialization of MDI-2517 through standard pharmaceutical distribution channels to healthcare providers treating fibrotic disease patients. Capitalization is anchored by a March 2022 Series A of up to $9 million from Juvenescence Ltd., which also serves as a strategic development collaborator through Phase 1. Go-to-market activity is limited to enterprise field-sales posture targeting clinical trial sites and academic/medical community engagement via publications and conferences, with no consumer-facing channels and no active hiring as of the latest disclosed state.

Name

MDI Therapeutics

Legal name

MDI Therapeutics, Inc.

Website

https://mditherapeutics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MDI Therapeutics is a privately held, clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing a first-in-class orally available small-molecule inhibitor of PAI-1 (MDI-2517) for the treatment of fibrosis and fibroproliferative diseases, currently in Phase 1 trials.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Anti-fibrotic Pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Clinical Development (Phase I–III Trial Design & Execution) (HLAIALAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Primary Care & General Medicine Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAA)

Keywords

• Fibrosis therapeutics
• Small molecule inhibitors
• PAI-1 inhibitors
• Clinical-stage pharmaceuticals
• Fibroproliferative disease treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Novi

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Product Sales: As a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, MDI Therapeutics plans to generate revenue through the development and commercialization of novel therapies for fibrosis and fibroproliferative diseases. The company is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials with MDI-2517 and is pre-revenue at this time.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

MDI Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing first-in-class orally available small molecule inhibitors of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) for the treatment of fibrosis and fibroproliferative diseases. The company's lead candidate, MDI-2517, is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials (first participants dosed June 2024) and is positioned as a novel therapy for chronic fibrotic conditions with no approved direct PAI-1 inhibitors on the market.

Product overview

MDI Therapeutics is a pharmaceutical company developing novel therapies for the treatment of fibrosis and fibroproliferative diseases. The company's lead program is MDI-2517, a first-in-class orally available inhibitor of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), currently undergoing Phase 1 clinical studies. The company was founded on key enabling technologies developed at the University of Michigan. There are no approved drugs known to directly inhibit PAI-1, making this a novel therapeutic approach for pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic processes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MDI-2517

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• FibroGen: Biotech focused on fibrosis and anemia with roxadustat approved in multiple geographies and pamrevlumab in late-stage development for IPF and other fibrotic conditions. Direct comparability: shared fibrosis therapeutic area focus and small-to-mid-cap biotech development stage.
• Pliant Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing novel therapies for fibrotic diseases including IPF, with lead asset bexotegrast in Phase 2b. Direct comparability: similar fibrosis focus, clinical-stage development, small-cap biotech structure competing for the same end market.
• Galapagos NV: Belgian biotech with a major fibrosis franchise including ziritaxestat and other IPF assets that have been studied in Phase 3. Comparable as a fibrosis-focused, clinical-stage competitor pursuing novel mechanisms in the same indication space as MDI-2517.

Emerging players

• Blade Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing calpain inhibitors for fibrotic diseases including IPF. Comparable as an emerging fibrosis competitor pursuing novel mechanisms with similar early-stage clinical development profile to MDI-2517.
• Endeavor BioMedicines: Clinical-stage biotech developing envafolimab and other therapies for fibrotic diseases including IPF. Comparable as an emerging fibrosis-focused player with similar clinical-stage development profile and novel-mechanism approach.
• Vicore Pharma: Swedish clinical-stage biotech developing C21, an angiotensin II type 2 receptor agonist for IPF and systemic sclerosis. Comparable as a small emerging fibrosis competitor with similar clinical-stage profile and novel-mechanism approach.

Broad incumbents

• Bristol Myers Squibb: Major pharma with significant fibrosis investment including the Promedior acquisition (PRM-151 in IPF) and broader inflammation/fibrosis programs. Comparable as a large incumbent with fibrosis programs that represent competitive pressure and potential BD counterparties for MDI.
• Boehringer Ingelheim: Large pharma with established fibrosis franchise including Ofev (nintedanib) approved for IPF and other fibrotic lung diseases. Comparable as the dominant commercial player in fibrosis, setting the competitive landscape MDI-2517 would enter, though much larger and broader in scope.
• United Therapeutics: Mid-to-large biotech with Tyvaso (inhaled treprostinil) approved for PAH and PH-ILD, plus broader pipeline. Comparable as a fibrosis/PH-focused commercial-stage company that represents both a potential competitor and a possible acquirer/partner for MDI's PAI-1 platform.
• Roche: Global pharmaceutical leader with significant fibrosis and ILD research programs including collaboration activities in IPF. Comparable as a broad incumbent pharma with fibrosis programs that create competitive pressure and acquisition optionality.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

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 MDI Therapeutics