Vyome Therapeutics Inc, a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company developing novel medicines for treating skin diseases caused by resistant microbes has announced the closing of a $22 million financing.

Vyome Therapeutics Inc. will primarily use the funds to advance its lead molecule, VB1953, through phase 2 studies for treatment of moderate to severe acne and for operations. Part of the funds raised are used for facilitating a secondary transaction.

Venkateswarlu Nelabhotla, Chief Executive Officer of Vyome Therapeutics said, “The closing of Vyome’s Series D comes at a transformational time for the company, as we prepare to initiate a phase 2b clinical trial with our lead candidate, VB 1953, and as we establish the center of operations and headquarters in the United States through a corporate restructuring exercise. We see this investment as validation of Vyome’s innovative approach to efficient specialty pharmaceutical development and the ability of the company’s scientific platform to help solve the problem of microbial resistance in dermatology.”

The financing was led by Iron Pillar, a venture growth investment fund with locations in Palo Alto and Mumbai. Existing investors, including Perceptive Advisors, Romulus Capital and Kalaari Capital also participated in this round.

Mohanjit Jolly, Partner at Iron Pillar, added “We are thrilled to partner with Vyome and cement our long-standing relationship with the co-founders. This investment fits well with Iron Pillar’s approach of backing visionary entrepreneurs, together with patented platform technologies and products that have the potential to leapfrog the current market. Our advisors, who are dermatology experts in the U.S., are very encouraged by the early clinical efficacy and safety data from studies of VB 1953, and the depth and quality of science around the novel mechanism. We look forward to leveraging our cross-border network and U.S. capital markets experience to support Vyome as it seeks to establish itself as a leading specialty pharmaceuticals company.”

Vyome’s lead molecule, VB 1953, is a topical bactericidal antibiotic candidate with a novel mechanism of action that includes inflammation reducing capabilities as well as the demonstrated ability to treat antibiotic resistant P. acnes strains and currently, a US phase 2b clinical trial is being initiated.

In preclinical studies, VB 1953 is active against clindamycin resistant P. acnes bacteria, has a low emergence of resistance and reduces inflammation. VB 1953 is delivered with a microtechnology gel system that ensures the drug is retained at the site of infection and minimizes systemic exposure.