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Gene&Cell Therapy >> Commit Biologics nabs Novo Holdings support in €16M seed round for complement platform: Novo Holdings is pitching in to Commit Biologics’ seed funding for its research on “supercharging” antibodies to turn on the complement system, an approach that could potentially lead to treatments for blood cancer and autoimmune diseases. The €16 million ($17 million) raise, led by Novo Holdings and Bioqube Ventures, will help accelerate development of Commit’s so-called Bispecific Complement Engaging (BiCE) platform. The funds should offer a runway through the start of 2026, Commit Biologics CEO Krishna Polu told Endpoints News in an interview. The complement system is part of the broader immune system that triggers an inflammatory response to pathogens. To activate the complement system in a targeted way, BiCE uses single domain antibodies that bind to the complement protein C1q. This approach could lead to killing cancer cells or immune cells that drive autoimmune disease, the Danish biotech said in a release. “We can basically take an antibody, use our technology to arm it with these complement activators, and essentially supercharge it,” Polu said, adding that the platform’s use of conventional antibodies could help derisk development. “Our goals under the seed financing are to arrive at two development candidates against two targets in different disease areas,” Polu said. One candidate will likely address a form of blood cancer, while the other may target CD19 for a B cell-mediated autoimmune disease, he added. Other companies are investigating CD19-targeting CAR-T therapies for autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. But toxicity, manufacturing and cost hurdles mean these therapies may be limited to extremely sick patients, Polu said. “We think our platform can achieve a deep depletion of CD19-positive B cells in tissues, similar to CAR-Ts, but with certain advantages” such as fewer toxicities and manufacturing challenges, he added. Commit was founded in 2021 as a spinout from Denmark’s Aarhus University, and was initially supported and incubated by the BioInnovation Institute. Aarhus has been researching complement structural biology for around 30 years. #lucidquest #genetherapy #celltherapy

Today, Viking Global Investors and ArrowMark Partners announced a partnership with AbCellera to advance new antibody drug programs in immunology. This reflects a growing trend in 2024 towards early-stage biotech investing. The collaboration harnesses cutting-edge technology to accelerate drug discovery and development, emphasizing the importance of innovative solutions to address unmet medical needs. How can emerging biotech startups effectively attract the attention and investment of major players like Viking and ArrowMark in this competitive landscape? #BiotechInvesting #HealthcareInnovation #Immunotherapy #DrugDiscovery #BiotechCollaboration #InvestmentTrends

In business news, InduPro, Inc., a biotechnology company defining protein spatial relationships to create novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, announced an $85 million Series A financing co-led by The Column Group and Vida Ventures with participation from investors, including MRL Ventures Fund (the therapeutics-focused venture fund of Merck & Co, Inc.), Emerson Collective and Euclidean Capital. The financing will support the advancement of the first expected clinical product candidate targeting cancer tissue based on the proximity of co-targeted pairs, from preclinical development to an expected IND filing in Q4 2025 for a Phase 1 clinical trial. It will also fuel a pipeline of novel bispecific antibodies and antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) that utilizes protein proximity for identification of novel tumor selective target pairings. https://lnkd.in/e4dmG_b3

🚀 Third Arc Bio Launches with $165M Series A to Revolutionise Biologics! 🧬💉 Third Arc Bio has successfully secured an oversubscribed $165 million Series A financing! This significant investment will fuel the development of superior biologics targeting solid tumors and inflammatory & immunology (II) diseases. 🔹 Key Highlights: -Strong Investor Support: The Series A round was led by premier biotech investors, underscoring confidence in Third Arc Bio's innovative approach. -Focus on Breakthrough Therapies: Third Arc Bio aims to advance biologics that offer enhanced efficacy and safety profiles for patients suffering from hard-to-treat conditions. -Expert Leadership: The company is led by a team of seasoned professionals with a proven track record in biotech and drug development. 🗣 Quote from the CEO: "We are excited to embark on this journey to deliver next-generation biologics that address significant unmet medical needs. Our team's expertise and the strong support from our investors will be crucial in bringing these transformative therapies to patients." — Peter Lebowitz 🌐 About Third Arc Bio: Third Arc Bio is committed to pushing the boundaries of biologics to improve patient outcomes in oncology and immunology. The company's cutting-edge research and development efforts are poised to make a substantial impact in the biotech industry. #Biotech #HealthcareInnovation #SeriesAFunding #ThirdArcBio #Oncology #Immunology #Biologics #Investment #Pharma #MedicalResearch #InnovationInMedicine

🌟 Big News in Biotech! 🌟 #AbbVie acquires pioneering biotech #CelsiusTherapeutics developing therapies for #InflammatoryDiseases Celsius Therapeutics flagship candidate, CEL383, has just cleared Phase 1 trials in combating IBD, showcasing promise as a novel anti-TREM1 antibody. TREM1, often at the heart of inflammatory responses, could be the key to turning the tides on conditions like IBD, where traditional therapies may fall short. Dr. Kori Wallace, MDPhD at AbbVie and Dr. Tariq Kassum of Celsius share a unified vision, fueled by the potential of CEL383 to revolutionize remission rates for patients with inflammatory ailments. The deal, inked at $250 million, is an investment in hope, in progress, and I am excited to see how AbbVie will move this therapy forward in the clinic and make a difference in the lives of patients with #IBD. #AntibodyTherapeutics #Abbvie #Inflammatory #Acquistion #M&A #IBDTreatment #BiotechMergers #ElixirAssociates

InduPro Announces $85M Series A Financing https://lnkd.in/dHZJ3itc InduPro, Inc. , a biotechnology company defining protein spatial relationships to create novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, announced an $85 million Series A financing co-led by The Column Group and Vida Ventures with participation from investors, including MRL Ventures Fund (the therapeutics-focused venture fund of Merck & Co, Inc.), Emerson Collective and Euclidean Capital. The financing will support the advancement of the first expected clinical product candidate targeting cancer tissue based on the proximity of co-targeted pairs, from preclinical development to an expected IND filing in Q4 2025 for a Phase 1 clinical trial. It will also fuel a pipeline of novel bispecific antibodies and antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) that utilizes protein proximity for identification of novel tumor selective target pairings. Prakash Raman, Ph.D. joins as Chief Executive Officer of InduPro with more than two decades of biopharmaceutical business development and executive leadership experience, blending his… Click here to view original post Click Here to Publish/Feature Your Company or Product News with Biotech Networks

More hope is on the horizon for the future of Alzheimer’s disease with the announcement that Novo Holdings have led a $100 million series C funding round for Asceneuron SA, a Swiss-based clinical stage biotechnology company. The funding is backed by a renowned syndicate of investors including EQT Life Sciences – LSP Dementia Fund, GSK Equities Investments, OrbiMed, SR One, Sofinnova Partners, M Ventures and Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC. Asceneuron are developing an oral small molecule drug, ASN51, that targets tau protein aggregation through the inhibition of OGA (O-GlcNAcase). The aim of ASN51 is to prevent tau protein aggregation to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, with the oral formulation providing greater convenience to patients compared to existing intravenous treatments. Following phase 1 trials showing that ASN51 is taken up by the central nervous system and has an effect on OGA, the new funding will be used to advance the drug into phase 2 trials. I’m looking forward to seeing the outcomes of the phase 2 study as Asceneuron plan to initiate the clinical trials later this year. #clinicalresearch #clinicalstudy #clinicaltrials #alzheimersresearch #biotechnology #asceneuron #asn51 #pharmaceutical

🕺 DISCO Pharmaceuticals GmbH launches with €20 Million Seed Financing! 🚀 🔬 Based out of Germany & Switzerland, DISCO are unravelling the surfaceome of cancer cells on a large scale, uncovering novel targets and pioneering the development of ground-breaking, first-in-class drugs. 💸 The financing is backed by a prominent investor syndicate, which includes Panakes Partners, M Ventures , AbbVie Ventures, with Sofinnova Partners spearheading the financing. 🗣 "𝘞𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴." Roman Thomas ▶ 2024 has kicked off in excellent fashion, long may the good news continue! Check out the link posted below to learn more about DISCO Pharmaceuticals GmbH - congratulations to all involved. #biotech #drugdiscovery #proteomics #surfaceome

Discover the Future of AI Drug Discovery with Syntekabio at BIO! 📍 Visit us in Booth #5435 at the San Diego Convention Center, June 3-6, 2024. Explore how Syntekabio de-risks and streamlines drug discovery with our robust #AI-driven platforms. Leveraging our powerful infrastructure, we rapidly discover and deliver both small molecules and biologics, including antibodies and neoantigens. We experimentally validate our work in cooperation with our global CRO network and can deliver a package that’s ready for the clinic. 🧬 Learn more about our innovative solutions: 🔬Syntekabio In Silico Biologics: includes Neo-ARS, our cutting-edge AI platform for personalized or universal #neoantigen prediction, so-called tumor-specific cancer vaccines, as well as Ab-ARS for the prediction of novel complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) of antibody heavy chains. 🚀 STB LaunchPad: proprietary disease-agnostic technology platform that can generate hits, leads, and ultimately drug candidates against multiple targets. 🌟 We look forward to meeting you to tell you more about how our platforms can generate new chemical entities and preclinical assets, simplifying and accelerating the path from discovery to development. 🤝 🗓️ Schedule a meeting via the partnering system at https://lnkd.in/dNYY4ts7 or drop by Booth 5435 to discuss how our innovative solutions can enhance your drug discovery efforts. #BIO2024 #drugdiscovery #BIOInternational #BIOConvention

KACTUS at Festival of Biologics 2024, Booth 517 📍 Mark your calendars! KACTUS is proud to sponsor America's Most Exciting Biologics Event: Festival of Biologics 2024. Join us in sunny San Diego at the San Diego Convention Center from April 15-17. 🔬 Presentation Spotlight: Don't miss out on the insights by Xiaoyuan Ran, our Director of R&D. Catch her talk on "Transforming Tumor Research: Engineering MHCs as Versatile Reagents" on April 15 at 3pm. 📊 Poster Presentations: Explore our innovative research through five engaging posters: #77: Transforming Tumor Research: Engineering MHCs as Versatile Reagents #78: GPCR VLPs & Nanodiscs for Drug Discovery #79: Tailored AAV Solutions: ELISA Kits and Customized Variant Kit Development #80: Enhancing Cell Therapy with GMP-Grade Cas9 Nuclease Exhibiting Superior Quality and Batch Consistency in Gene Editing #81: The Second-Generation High-Fidelity Cytosine Base Editor AccuBaseTM Can Proficiently Modify Multiple Genes Within A Human Primary T cell While Minimizing Off-target Effects For more details and to join us on this biologics voyage, click here: https://bit.ly/4cRcMdZ #KACTUS #festivalofbiologicsUSA #Biotech #Innovation #DrugDiscovery #antibodytherapeutics #antibodydiscovery