| Website | arginetix.com |
| Category | BioTech |
| Employees | |
| Description | biopharmaceutical |
| Total | $6.9M |
| Angel, 10/08 Quaker BioVentures MedImmune Ventures Red Abbey Venture Partners Acidophil | $2.3M |
| Series B, 11/09 Quaker BioVentures MedImmune Ventures Red Abbey Venture Partners Maryland Health Care Product Development Acidophil | $4.6M |
Arginetix is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing novel therapeutic small molecule inhibitors of arginase. Arginase is an enzyme that competes with endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS) for the use of the common substrate L-arginine. Elevated Arginase limits L-arginine available for eNOS resulting in both a reduction in Nitric Oxide (NO) production (reducing signaling critical for normal function) as well as eNOS “uncoupling” leading to the production of damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS). Further, arginase also leads to the production of ornithine which increases polyamine, stimulating cell division, contributing to hyperplasia and fibrosis. Together the decrease in NO, the increase in ROS and the increase in ornithine are major causes of endothelial dysfunction. Initial indications include Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) and Erectile Dysfunction associated with diabetes.
