Max BioPharma, a California-based preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel small molecule lipid therapies, has raised approximately $13 million in equity funding as it advances its proprietary Oxysterol Therapeutics platform toward clinical development in metabolic, inflammatory, and oncology-related diseases.

The company is focused on discovering and developing oxysterol-based small molecule drug candidates designed to modulate biological pathways involved in inflammation, fibrosis, and abnormal cell growth. Its lead program, Oxy210, is being developed as an orally bioavailable therapeutic candidate for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), formerly known as NASH. The compound is designed with antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory properties and targets a disease area with limited effective treatment options and a large global patient population.

Max BioPharma was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California. The company operates as a privately held biotechnology firm focused on translating lipid-based chemistry into therapeutic applications, particularly in diseases where fibrosis, inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction drive progression. Its broader pipeline also explores applications in oncology and bone regeneration, reflecting a platform-based strategy built around oxysterol biology.

The financing round is led by Technomark Life Sciences, which has taken a strategic investor role in supporting the advancement of Oxy210 into clinical development. The investment is structured to help fund Phase 1a/1b clinical trials for the lead candidate, as well as support regulatory preparation and manufacturing scale-up activities.

In addition to Technomark Life Sciences, the company has also benefited from earlier non-dilutive funding sources, including support from the National Institutes of Health and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which have helped advance its early research programs. These grants have contributed to preclinical validation of its oxysterol platform and expansion of its therapeutic pipeline across multiple indications.

Max BioPharma’s scientific approach is centered on its Oxysterol Therapeutics platform, which uses naturally derived lipid molecules to influence multiple disease pathways simultaneously. Unlike traditional single-target drug approaches, its compounds are designed to address complex, interconnected biological processes such as inflammation, fibrosis, and cellular degeneration, which are central to chronic metabolic and oncologic diseases.

The company’s lead candidate, Oxy210, has shown preclinical potential in reducing fibrosis and inflammation in liver disease models, positioning it as a potential therapy for MASH, a condition closely linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes. Beyond liver disease, the platform is also being evaluated for potential applications in cancer biology and bone regeneration, reflecting its multi-indication development strategy.

Investor interest in Max BioPharma reflects broader momentum in biotech funding focused on metabolic and fibrotic diseases, particularly MASH, which has become one of the most competitive areas in drug development. The company’s differentiated mechanism of action and small-molecule approach are seen as potential advantages in a field that includes both small molecules and biologics in late-stage clinical development.

With the new funding, Max BioPharma is expected to accelerate its clinical development roadmap, advance IND-enabling studies, and initiate early human trials for Oxy210. The company also plans to expand its research capabilities and deepen collaborations with academic and industry partners to further validate its oxysterol-based platform.

As it transitions from preclinical research to clinical-stage development, Max BioPharma is positioning itself as a platform biotech company aiming to address multiple high-unmet-need diseases through a unified lipid-based therapeutic strategy.

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