Sur180 gets nearly $2.4M NIH grant to develop non-hormonal endo treatment
Sur180 Therapeutics, a biomedical startup supported by the Ponce Research Institute at Ponce Health Sciences University, has received a $2.38 million Phase II Small Business Innovation Research grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child and Human Development, part of the National Institutes of Health.
The funding will support two years of clinical development for Sur180’s non-hormonal oral treatment for endometriosis, a condition affecting more than 6.5 million women in the U.S. that is typically treated with hormone therapies. Such therapies can cause adverse effects, impact fertility or be ineffective, the company said.
The project includes completing toxicology studies, submitting regulatory documents and filing an Investigational New Drug application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
“At the Ponce Research Institute, we reaffirm our commitment to scientific innovation and the development of biomedical solutions that transform the health and well-being of our communities,” said Kenira Thompson, president of the Ponce Research Institute.
“Entrepreneurial initiatives like Sur180 Therapeutics represent an exemplary model of how translational research can evolve into companies that drive discoveries from the laboratory to the patient,” she added.
Sur180’s lead drug targets neuroinflammatory processes linked to endometriosis by modulating the body’s stress system, rather than relying on hormone-based treatments.
“There is abundant evidence showing that endometriosis is not solely dependent on estrogen,” said Caroline Appleyard, chief scientific officer at Sur180.
“The great advantage of our proposal is that it moves away from a focus on sex hormones by targeting the stress system, which is known to regulate reproductive and endometrial processes,” she said.
The project also includes research into fertility and user acceptance. Dr. Idhaliz Flores, a co-investigator and expert in women’s health, will lead studies on fertility impacts and treatment preferences among patients and providers.
“In addition to scientific advances, we want to ensure that this new oral medication addresses the true needs of those living with endometriosis,” she said.
Clinical trials are expected to begin in 2027.
“The NICHD support validates the scientific merit and therapeutic potential of our approach,” said Annelyn Torres-Reveron, CEO of Sur180. “This funding marks a pivotal moment in our mission to provide safer and more effective treatment options for those living with endometriosis.”
