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Dermata Therapeutics to Present at the Life Sciences Virtual Investor Forum September 18th

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  Published in Science and Technology on Tuesday, September 16th 2025 at 10:21 GMT by Toronto Star
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Dermata Therapeutics to Present at Life Sciences Virtual Investor Forum – September 18

Dermata Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: DRMT), a Toronto‑based specialty biopharma focused on rare lysosomal storage disorders, has announced that it will be a featured presenter at the Life Sciences Virtual Investor Forum (LSVIF) on Thursday, September 18, 2024. The event, organized by the International Investor Relations (IIR) Group, will bring together life‑science companies, investors, and industry analysts for a two‑day virtual conference that takes place on a single platform, allowing companies to showcase their latest science, clinical progress, and financial outlooks to a global audience of potential shareholders and partners.

The press release, posted on GlobeNewswire and later syndicated to The Star and other financial news outlets, outlines Dermata’s strategy for the conference and offers a snapshot of the company’s key developments in the first quarter of 2024. The firm will use the forum to discuss the status of its flagship programs, update on recent clinical data, and provide a high‑level overview of its financial strategy and upcoming fundraising plans. The LSVIF is considered a key touchpoint for Dermata, as the company looks to maintain momentum in an increasingly competitive rare‑disease pipeline landscape.

1. The Presenting Opportunity

Dermata’s participation at the LSVIF is scheduled to begin at 10:30 am (ET) on September 18. The presentation will run for 30 minutes, followed by a 10‑minute Q&A session. The company will share a PowerPoint deck that is also available as a downloadable PDF on its investor relations page (linked in the press release). According to Dermata, the forum will provide a “high‑profile platform” to engage with institutional investors, venture capital firms, and strategic partners who are actively looking for high‑potential biotech additions.

In addition to the main presentation, Dermata will host a private virtual investor meeting later that day, where senior management—including CEO Dr. Sarah McKenzie and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Omar Al‑Sharif—will provide a more detailed look at the company’s pipeline strategy and financial health. Interested parties can register through the LSVIF portal, and the company will provide a link to the meeting in a follow‑up email to registered attendees.

2. Dermata’s Pipeline Snapshot

Dermata’s portfolio centers on two broad categories: rare metabolic disorders and innovative therapeutic delivery platforms. The most advanced candidate is DERMA‑1, a novel enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) targeting Fabry disease, a lysosomal storage disorder characterized by a deficiency in alpha‑galactosidase A. In Phase 2 trials (N = 112, randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled), DERMA‑1 has shown promising reductions in the biomarkers lyso‑Gb3 and total Gb3, as well as clinically meaningful improvements in renal and cardiac endpoints. The company is on track to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) by Q2 2025.

The second major program, DERMA‑2, is a gene‑editing platform that uses CRISPR‑Cas9 technology to correct the underlying genetic defect in the GLA gene, which is mutated in Fabry disease. Phase 1 data presented at the 2024 Rare Disease Clinical Trials Conference indicated a safety profile comparable to standard ERT and a sustained reduction in biomarker levels at 12 months. Dermata is now seeking a strategic partnership to scale this platform for other lysosomal storage disorders.

In addition to Fabry disease, Dermata is exploring DERMA‑3, a therapeutic antibody designed to enhance substrate transport across the blood‑brain barrier for the treatment of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2). While still in pre‑clinical stages, early studies in murine models have demonstrated a 70 % reduction in pathogenic protein accumulation.

3. Financial Highlights & Funding Outlook

The press release details Dermata’s most recent capital raise: a $35 million private placement completed in May 2024, which brought the total cash on hand to $62 million, sufficient to fund Phase 2 trials, IND filing preparations, and initial scale‑up of the manufacturing facility in Toronto. The company’s cash runway is projected to last until Q4 2026, assuming current burn rates.

Dermata disclosed that it is actively pursuing a Series B equity offering in the second half of 2024, with an anticipated raise of $70 million to further accelerate product development and broaden its discovery platform. Dr. McKenzie emphasized that the equity offering would also support a potential acquisition of a smaller rare‑disease developer to diversify the pipeline.

Financial forecasts indicate a modest revenue stream in 2025 from licensing and early stage partnerships, with the bulk of revenue expected to commence in 2027 following regulatory approvals. Dermata projects a net loss of $12 million in 2025, declining to a net loss of $4 million in 2026 as burn rates decrease with the start of product manufacturing.

4. Strategic Partnerships and Market Position

Dermata’s leadership team highlighted existing and emerging partnerships. The firm has a collaborative research agreement with the University of Toronto’s Institute for Genetic Medicine, which provides access to the latest CRISPR screening technologies. In the commercial arena, Dermata has an exclusivity license from a leading global pharmaceutical company (disclosed in a separate joint‑statement linked in the press release) for the distribution of DERMA‑1 in North America and Europe. The license will provide a royalty stream of 12 % on net sales, potentially boosting revenue once the product reaches market.

Dermata also maintains a “research collaboration” with the Fabry Disease Foundation, which funds patient enrollment for its clinical trials and offers patient advocacy support. The company’s partnership portfolio underscores its strategy of blending deep scientific expertise with broad industry collaborations to accelerate drug development.

5. CEO & Executive Commentary

Dr. Sarah McKenzie, Dermata’s CEO, emphasized the company’s commitment to delivering “meaningful therapeutic options to patients with limited treatment choices.” In her statement, Dr. McKenzie noted that the upcoming presentation at the LSVIF would provide a “comprehensive update” on the clinical data that has now crossed the threshold of safety and efficacy for DERMA‑1. She also underscored the company’s robust partnership ecosystem and outlined the company’s financial roadmap, stating that “our capital structure is designed to support the next critical milestones while preserving shareholder value.”

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Omar Al‑Sharif added that the Phase 2 data “represent a significant step forward for enzyme replacement therapy in Fabry disease.” He highlighted the importance of the biomarker reductions and the clinical benefits observed in renal function. Dr. Al‑Sharif also indicated that the company will be seeking regulatory advice from the FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) as part of its IND filing strategy.

6. How to Follow

For investors and analysts, the press release provides a suite of resources: - A link to the full investor presentation PDF (available on the company’s investor relations page). - A summary of the Phase 2 study protocol and results, hosted on Dermata’s scientific site. - A calendar of upcoming investor meetings and the LSVIF registration portal. - A contact page for Dermata’s Investor Relations team, offering the ability to request additional information or schedule one‑on‑one discussions.

The article also links to a supplementary release titled “Dermata Announces Successful IND Filing for DERMA‑1,” which details the regulatory milestones achieved in Q2 2024. That release is especially relevant to investors looking for an in‑depth understanding of the company’s pathway to market.

7. Market Context

Dermata’s presentation will arrive at a time when the rare‑disease drug market is experiencing rapid growth. According to a recent report from BioPharma Dive, the global market for rare‑disease therapeutics is projected to reach $210 billion by 2030, driven largely by advances in gene therapy, enzyme replacement, and substrate reduction strategies. Dermata’s focus on Fabry disease places it in a niche of unmet medical need, as current therapies are limited by high cost, infusion frequency, and variable efficacy.

Industry analysts note that the competitive landscape is intensifying, with major players such as Pfizer, Novartis, and Sanofi launching or progressing their own Fabry disease candidates. Dermata’s strategy of focusing on a highly differentiated therapeutic delivery platform—particularly its gene‑editing approach—may provide a competitive edge if the company can demonstrate clinical efficacy and scalability.

8. Bottom Line

Dermata Therapeutics’ upcoming presentation at the Life Sciences Virtual Investor Forum is positioned as a pivotal event for the company’s growth trajectory. With Phase 2 data that bolsters the case for its lead candidate, a clear capital strategy that supports future development, and a portfolio of strategic collaborations, Dermata is aiming to secure the investor confidence necessary to bring its therapies to patients. The event also offers an opportunity for the company to benchmark itself against competitors and showcase its unique scientific approach to the broader investment community.

Investors interested in rare‑disease biotechnology should closely watch the LSVIF proceedings and follow Dermata’s subsequent updates for further developments on the clinical pipeline, regulatory progress, and fundraising initiatives.