Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Afferent Pharmaceuticals Raises $23M

Palo Alto-based Afferent Pharmaceuticals, a developer of chronic pain treatments, has raised $23M in a Series A financing round, the firm said today. The round was led by Third Rock Ventures and Pappas Ventures, and also included Domain Associates and New Leaf Venture Partners. Afferent is licensing Roche's P2X31 receptor program to Afferent as part of the deal. According to Afferent, the funding will go to accelerate development of the P2X3 receptor targeted pain therapies. Afferent is headed by Anthony Ford, Ph.D., former vice president of research at Roche.