SFA Therapeutics: A Temple Spinout Born at a Dinner Gathering and Shaping the Future of Autoimmune Therapies

SFA Therapeutics, based in Jenkintown, PA, is transforming autoimmune and inflammatory disease treatment with microbial-derived therapies. What began as a dinner conversation is now a pioneering biotech company.

Dec 31, 2024 - 04:33
Dec 31, 2024 - 08:20
SFA Therapeutics: A Temple Spinout Born at a Dinner Gathering and Shaping the Future of Autoimmune Therapies

SFA Therapeutics, a biotech innovator based in Jenkintown, PA, is reshaping the treatment landscape for autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases with its microbial-derived therapies. While the company is garnering attention for its cutting-edge clinical advancements, its journey began unexpectedly at a dinner gathering that laid the groundwork for its transformative vision.

Rooted in research from Temple University, SFA Therapeutics is pioneering microbiome-derived oral therapeutics designed to address autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. This clinical-stage biotech is leveraging a first-in-class immuno-modulation platform to discover and develop next-generation therapies for a broad range of inflammatory conditions. Focused on optimizing both efficacy and safety, SFA Therapeutics is advancing a portfolio of clinical and pre-clinical assets that aim to improve outcomes for over 350 million patients worldwide. Its lead asset, SFA-002, serves as a proof-of-concept for the company’s key mechanism of action, targeting a variety of autoimmune diseases.

From Dinner Table to Company

The seeds for SFA Therapeutics were planted during a dinner party in the mid-2010s. Dr. Ira Spector, now the company’s CEO, was introduced to Dr. Mark Feitelson, a professor of immunovirology at Temple University, by Spector’s wife. As the two began exchanging stories, Dr. Feitelson spoke about his work on a potential drug to block the progression of hepatitis B to liver cancer. At the time, he was struggling to gain investor interest.

Dr. Spector, a seasoned drug developer with career spanning roles at Allergan, Pfizer, and ICON, saw potential far beyond the initial application. He visited Dr. Feitelson’s lab at Temple University to review the data and realized the platform could target a wide range of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

“I told Mark, ‘You may have a drug for liver cancer, but I believe you’re sitting on a platform with profound potential,’” Spector recalled. He challenged the team to demonstrate the platform’s efficacy in human models, moving beyond preclinical animal studies. A year later, Feitelson and Dr. Alla Arzumanyan, a Temple assistant professor and co-inventor of the technology, delivered results showing its promise as a psoriasis treatment.

In 2017, armed with compelling evidence and a shared vision, the group founded SFA Therapeutics and licensed the technology from Temple University. "What started as a casual dinner conversation turned into a biotech company aiming to change the way autoimmune diseases are treated," said Dr. Spector. The name "SFA" was chosen to honor the last names of the three founders, symbolizing their dedication to the team and their unified mission. Reflecting on the company’s origins, Dr. Spector remarked, "We’re truly a local story—a small company with a big vision," as they embarked on their journey to revolutionize patient care.

Data Readout and Expanding Pipeline

SFA Therapeutics is making significant strides in advancing its clinical pipeline, all rooted in groundbreaking research licensed from Temple University.

The company recently completed a Phase 1b trial of SFA-002, a therapeutic compound under development for the treatment of psoriasis. Early data suggest that SFA-002, an oral pill, has the potential to be disease-modifying, offering durable responses with an excellent safety profile. Unlike other treatments that target a single pathway, SFA-002 works across multiple therapeutic pathways, providing an immunomodulatory effect by down-regulating pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in psoriasis pathogenesis.

SFA’s expanding pipeline includes potential treatments for a variety of conditions, such as lupus, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and inflammatory bowel disease. With continued FDA milestones and promising clinical progress, SFA Therapeutics is positioning itself as a leader in developing therapies that restore immune balance and address critical unmet medical needs.

As Dr. Ira Spector, CEO of SFA Therapeutics, said, "We are not just developing new treatments—we are creating a paradigm shift in how autoimmune and inflammatory diseases are managed, with the potential to improve countless lives."

Temple Research at the Core

SFA Therapeutics’ innovative platform is built upon groundbreaking research from Temple University, focusing on the role of metabolites produced by gut microbiota to modulate the immune system. These small molecules are designed to restore immune system balance, promoting homeostasis and reducing inflammation without fully suppressing immune activity—a key advancement in treating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Temple’s microbiome research has been instrumental in helping SFA tackle a critical challenge in drug development: achieving sustained clinical dosing with natural compounds. This breakthrough is safeguarded by 15 issued and allowed patents and 33 more pending, further solidifying SFA’s leadership in this emerging field. The company’s deep ties to Temple remain strong, with an active lab still located at the university.

The collaboration between Temple scientists and SFA Therapeutics is not just a successful academic spinout but a compelling example of how academic innovation can translate into real-world impact. “We’re not just a spinout; we’re proof that academic innovation can translate into real-world impact,” said SFA CEO, Spector. “Our work at Temple has laid the foundation for something that can truly transform how we approach autoimmune diseases, and we’re excited to see that vision come to life.” This partnership has been vital in shaping SFA’s growth, creating a powerful biotech story rooted in local expertise and global potential.

Backed by Strategic Investment

In the summer of 2021, SFA Therapeutics took a significant step forward by participating in the prestigious Y Combinator (YC) accelerator program. This invaluable experience allowed the company to fine-tune its business strategy and build connections with key players in Silicon Valley, positioning SFA for long-term success. The program played a crucial role in helping the organization refine its vision and attract attention from top investors.

Reflecting on the experience, Dr. Ira Spector, CEO of SFA Therapeutics, shared, "Y Combinator was pivotal in refining our strategy and connecting us with the right partners, helping us move closer to revolutionizing treatments.”

Since then, SFA Therapeutics has made impressive strides, securing substantial financial backing to advance its innovative platform. The company successfully raised $4 million in a seed funding round, led by Acequia Capital and North South Ventures, with additional support from key partners such as Ben Franklin Technology Partners. This strong foundation has enabled SFA to accelerate its research and development efforts. To-date, SFA has raised $9M.

Looking ahead, the company is now targeting a $25 million Series A funding round to fuel the expansion of its clinical pipeline. This pipeline includes six promising small-molecule candidates, each designed to address autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, areas of critical unmet medical need. With its growing investor support and a focused strategy for clinical development, SFA is well on its way to making a significant impact in the biotechnology space.

Transforming the Life Sciences Landscape

With its strong Temple University roots and a visionary team, SFA Therapeutics exemplifies the impact of translating academic research into therapeutic innovation. The company is not only advancing treatments for diseases with limited options but also bolstering Philadelphia’s reputation as a hub for life sciences innovation.

As SFA continues its clinical trials and expands its pipeline, it is poised to deliver a new class of therapies that could redefine how autoimmune and chronic inflammatory conditions are treated—bringing hope to patients and reinforcing the transformative potential of academic research.