FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VANE Members Invest in Anumio to Advance Long-Acting Injectable Medicines for Companion Animals
Investment will support development of Anumio's lead canine urinary incontinence program and broader Faros™ platform
Washington, DC — The Veterinary Angel Network for Entrepreneurs (VANE) is pleased to announce that members of its network have invested in Anumio, Inc., an animal health biotechnology company developing long-acting injectable (LAI) medicines designed to replace daily pills with veterinarian-administered treatments lasting 90 days or longer.
The investment will support the continued development of ANM02, Anumio's lead program for canine urinary incontinence, and the advancement of additional applications of the company's proprietary Faros™ platform.
Chronic conditions in companion animals are frequently managed with medications that must be administered once or twice every day. Pets may resist medication, owners miss doses, and compliance can decline over time, resulting in undertreated disease and poorer outcomes. Anumio is addressing this challenge through its proprietary Faros™ PLGA platform, which is designed to formulate existing medicines as concentrated, long-acting injectables.
Anumio's technology allows a therapeutic dose to be delivered through a small needle and released steadily over an extended period. The company's goal is simple: replace months of daily pills with a single injection administered by a veterinarian.
"Medication compliance is a problem every veterinarian understands," said Natalie Marks, DVM, and CEO of VANE. "We have effective medications, but they only work when they get into the patient. Anumio's approach has the potential to make treatment easier for pet owners, more reliable for patients, and more effective for veterinary practices."
Anumio's lead companion animal program, ANM02, is being developed for canine urinary incontinence, a chronic condition commonly managed with lifelong daily medication. The company estimates the current U.S. market for canine urinary incontinence therapies at approximately $140 million annually and is developing ANM02 as a 90-day injectable alternative.
As announced this month, Anumio is also advancing ANM04, a long-acting injectable program for equine, developed in partnership with AnimalCare. The Faros™ platform has been supported by more than $20 million in prior investment in GMP manufacturing and development and has been used in 10 non-clinical studies and one clinical study. Anumio's intellectual property portfolio includes seven issued U.S. patents and two pending U.S. patent applications.
Jeff Missling, CEO of Anumio, said, "We are excited to welcome VANE members as investors and gain access to a community with deep veterinary and animal health experience. VANE members understand both the clinical need for improved medication adherence and the opportunity long-acting injectable therapies present across animal health. Their capital, experience, and industry relationships will be extremely valuable as we advance ANM02 and expand the Faros™ platform."
Anumio operates through a capital-efficient development and partnering model. The company advances proprietary drug candidates through key development milestones before seeking licensing or commercialization partnerships with established animal health pharmaceutical companies. Anumio also pursues externally funded development collaborations that apply the Faros™ platform to additional therapeutic opportunities.
"We are excited to welcome Anumio to the VANE community," said Natalie Marks, DVM, CEO of VANE. "Improving compliance is one of the clearest ways to improve outcomes for pets and their families."
VANE's investment reflects its mission of providing direction, connection, and funding to promising animal health entrepreneurs while helping bring innovative solutions to veterinarians, pet owners, and the broader animal health ecosystem.
About Anumio
Anumio, Inc. is an animal health company dedicated to developing long-acting injectable therapeutics that improve the lives of companion animals and simplify treatment for veterinarians and pet owners. The company holds exclusive rights to Frenelle Pharma's Faros™ microsphere technology for animal health applications, leveraging its proprietary platform to design sustained-release formulations that reduce dosing frequency, enhance treatment adherence, and support safer, more convenient care. By focusing on unmet needs in veterinary medicine, Anumio aims to advance a pipeline of internally developed candidates while also pursuing co-development opportunities with strategic partners in key indications.
Anumio's parent company, Frenelle Pharma, systematically advances Faros™-enabled therapeutics from discovery through commercialization via its hub-and-spoke model. With micro-sized, spherical, non-porous particles that deliver consistent drug release, Faros™ particles enable injections through very small-gauge needles, minimizing injection-site pain and enhancing the safety of soft-tissue injections. Its aerodynamic properties make Faros™ particles compatible with inhalation delivery as well. Frenelle Pharma has three subsidiaries currently, SpineThera (sciatica), Frenelle PBC (addiction medicine), and Anumio (animal health). Headquartered in Minnesota's Medical Alley, the company is committed to continually improving patient and pet experiences through superior drug delivery.
About VANE
The Veterinary Angel Network for Entrepreneurs (VANE) is a community of veterinarians, industry executives, and entrepreneurs who are accredited investors dedicated to supporting innovation in animal health. VANE provides early-stage companies with access to capital, mentorship, strategic guidance, and industry connections to help accelerate growth and impact.
For further information, contact:
Peter Glassman, DVM
Co-Founder, VANE
peter@vane.vet
Jeff Missling
CEO, Anumio
jeff@anumio.com