Alpheus Medical

Alpheus Medical is a private, clinical-stage company in Chanhassen, Minnesota, developing what it calls Porphyrin Metabolite Activation (PoMA), described in the literature as sonodynamic therapy. The patient takes oral 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), which is metabolised to protoporphyrin IX (PpIX); the company says PpIX accumulates preferentially in malignant glioma cells. Its LIDU low-intensity, defocused ultrasound device is then applied across the affected brain hemisphere to activate the PpIX and produce reactive oxygen species. The company says the therapy is regulated through the FDA's drug framework. It reports completed studies in dogs with spontaneous glioblastoma, a phase 1 study in recurrent high-grade glioma (NCT05362409) and single-treatment and safety lead-in studies in newly diagnosed glioblastoma. A randomised, placebo- and sham-controlled phase 2b trial in newly diagnosed glioblastoma (NCT07225621) began in 2026, and a phase 1 trial in butterfly (bihemispheric) glioblastoma (NCT07862647) opened in October 2026. The company announced FDA Orphan Drug and Fast Track designations in July 2022. Financing it has announced: a $16 million Series A in November 2021 co-led by OrbiMed and Action Potential Venture Capital, a $14 million follow-on in November 2022, and a $52 million Series B in May 2025 co-led by HealthQuest Capital and Samsara BioCapital, with OrbiMed participating.