MacroNex Inc. has raised $2 million in its first round offinancing from S.R. One Ltd., Brantley Venture Partners andIntersouth Partners.

The Morrisville, N.C., company hopes to develop therapeuticsusing the natural regulators of macrophages, white blood cellsthat ingest foreign organisms and present antigens to T and Blymphocytes.

The company has licensed technology from Duke Universityand is developing two lead compounds. The first is a modifiedpeptide that lowers the level of gene expression of macrophageHLA class II antigens, one of the major histocompatibilityantigens that can cause graft rejection.

The second, a protein fragment of alpha 2 macroglobulin, alsodownregulates class II antigens and suppresses the productionof reactive oxygen intermediates by macrophages. These arethought to be a key element in diseases such as rheumatoidarthritis.

MacroNex is in the process of in-licensing three morecompounds from Duke, including a recombinant protein and asynthetic peptide. Both have potential as anti-inflammatoriesfor acute indications, such as septic shock, and chronicindications, such as rheumatoid arthritis. The company isn'tdisclosing the third compound, on which patent applicationshaven't yet been filed. -- KB

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