BRIEF—Xoc raises $30 million to find gap in migraine market

Los Gatos, California-based Xoc Pharmaceuticals has secured $30 million in series A funding to develop central nervous system (CNS) therapies.

The company’s lead candidates are for the prevention of migraine and Parkinson’s disease maintenance.

Xoc (pronouned 'shock') is led by Scott Borland, former senior neurology executive at migraine specialist MAP Pharmaceuticals.

Mr Borland told Xconomy his company was looking to find “a niche between the generics that managed care folks drive people toward and the more expensive therapies that are in development now.”

The group is hoping to “leverage information on existing compounds with established pharmacological and clinical history” to create novel therapies that are safer and more effective.

The funding round was led by global venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates (NEA).