Mosanna Therapeutics Company Profile

Background

Mosanna Therapeutics AG, established in 2022, is a clinical-stage biotechnology company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, with additional operations in Redwood City, California. The company is dedicated to developing innovative pharmaceutical solutions for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition affecting approximately 1 billion individuals globally. Mosanna's mission is to restore the body's natural airway control during sleep through non-invasive therapies, thereby improving patient outcomes and quality of life.

Key Strategic Focus

Mosanna's primary objective is to advance MOS118, a nighttime nasal spray designed to reactivate the body's natural airway reflexes, offering a non-mechanical alternative to traditional OSA treatments. By targeting the upper airway muscles responsible for maintaining airway patency, MOS118 aims to reduce apnea and hypopnea episodes during sleep. The company focuses on addressing the unmet needs of OSA patients who are underserved by current mechanical solutions.

Financials and Funding

Since its inception, Mosanna Therapeutics has successfully secured significant funding to support its research and development initiatives:

July 2022: Completed a seed financing round led by Forty51 Ventures, focusing on formulation, manufacturing optimization, and regulatory activities for MOS118.

April 2023: Announced a seed extension financing round with new investors Supermoon Capital and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), joining Forty51 Ventures. The funds were allocated for manufacturing and regulatory preparations ahead of clinical trials.

June 2025: Secured $80 million in a Series A funding round led by EQT Life Sciences and Pivotal bioVenture Partners, with participation from Forbion, Broadview Ventures, Norwest, Forty51 Ventures, Supermoon Capital, and HTGF. This capital is intended to advance MOS118 through Phase 2 clinical trials and expand the company's pipeline.

Pipeline Development

Mosanna's lead candidate, MOS118, is a nasal spray therapy targeting OSA:

Preclinical Stage: Initial development and optimization of MOS118's formulation and delivery mechanism.

Phase 1 Clinical Trials: Focused on assessing safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics.

Phase 2 Clinical Trials: Planned to evaluate the efficacy of MOS118 in reducing apnea and hypopnea episodes among OSA patients.

The company aims to progress MOS118 through these stages to provide a non-invasive treatment option for OSA patients.

Technological Platform and Innovation

Mosanna's innovative approach centers on MOS118, a small molecule pan-K+ channel inhibitor formulated as a nasal spray. This therapy is designed to stimulate the upper airway dilator muscles, thereby preventing airway collapse during sleep. By reactivating the body's natural Negative Pressure Reflex (NPR), MOS118 offers a patient-friendly alternative to existing mechanical interventions.

Leadership Team

Mosanna's leadership comprises experienced professionals with extensive backgrounds in biotechnology and pharmaceutical development:

David Weber, Ph.D.: Appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in June 2025. Dr. Weber brings over 30 years of experience in drug development, capital formation, and corporate strategy, having led teams across both public and private life sciences companies.

Jonathan Talbot, Ph.D.: Co-founder and former CEO, instrumental in establishing Mosanna and securing initial funding rounds.

Ben Machielse: Chairman of the Board, with a notable career including roles as CEO of Vtesse and COO at Omthera Pharmaceuticals.

Leadership Changes

In June 2025, Mosanna appointed Dr. David Weber as President and CEO, succeeding co-founder Dr. Jonathan Talbot. Dr. Weber also joined the Board of Directors, bringing extensive experience to guide the company through its next growth phase.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The global OSA treatment market is substantial, with approximately 1 billion individuals affected worldwide. Traditional treatments, such as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices, often face challenges related to patient adherence due to discomfort and inconvenience. This creates a significant opportunity for innovative, non-invasive therapies like MOS118.

Competitor Analysis

Key competitors in the OSA treatment landscape include:

ResMed Inc.: A leading provider of CPAP devices and related accessories.

Philips Respironics: Offers a range of sleep apnea therapy devices, including CPAP machines.

Inspire Medical Systems: Develops implantable neurostimulation devices for OSA treatment.

These companies primarily focus on mechanical solutions, highlighting the differentiation of Mosanna's pharmaceutical approach.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

Mosanna has established key partnerships to advance its development programs:

MedPharm: Collaborated to develop the nasal spray formulation of MOS118, leveraging MedPharm's expertise in topical and transdermal product development.

Forty51 Ventures: Co-founded Mosanna and led initial seed financing rounds, providing strategic guidance and support.

Operational Insights

Mosanna's strategic focus on a non-invasive, pharmaceutical solution for OSA positions it uniquely in the market. By addressing the limitations of existing mechanical treatments, the company aims to capture a significant share of the underserved patient population seeking more comfortable and effective therapies.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

With substantial funding secured and a strong leadership team in place, Mosanna is well-positioned to advance MOS118 through clinical development. The company's innovative approach offers a promising alternative to traditional OSA treatments, with potential for significant impact on patient care and market dynamics.