Celea Therapeutics, backed by PureTech, raised $180 million to advance deupirfenidone, its retooled pirfenidone-derived candidate for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The company plans to launch deupirfenidone into late-stage testing in the third quarter of 2026. Celea’s funding round was supported by RA Capital Management, Leaps by Bayer, and PureTech, alongside additional undisclosed investors. The startup said Phase 2 data released in 2024 showed slower lung function decline versus placebo over six months, with analyst commentary framing the results as improved efficacy with similar to slightly better tolerability versus pirfenidone.