A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting startups globally
RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – BIOPHARMA
- Hutchison China MediTech, oncology-focussed pharma company raises $101M in US IPO. Link
- Corvus Pharmaceutical raises $71M in a discounted IPO. Link
- Gilead finally makes a buy, acquired Nimbus’ lead program targeting NASH in a $1.2B deal. Link
- Human Longevity, a genomics-based, technology-driven company raises over $220M in Series B funding. Link
- AstraZeneca spinout EntasisTherapeutics raises $50M in Series B for antibiotic resistant infection drugs. Link
- DNA Sequencing firm 10X Genomics bags another $55M in Series C, Led by Fidelity Management and Research. Link
- Bristol-Myers Squibb snaps up Padlock Therapeutics in deal up to $600M. Link
- Two months after its Series A, Tizona Therapeutics raises $43M in Series B to advance its antibodies targeting immunosuppressive cells. Link
- Agilent Technologies makes $80M investment in sequencing technology company Lasergen. Link
- Sanofi strikes $2.3B deal with DiCE molecules. Link
SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND
LEADER BOARD – BIPOHARMA
Immunotherapy
Juno Therapeutics (2013, Seattle, IPO) – Immunotherapies based on chimeric antigen receptor and T cell receptor technologies to genetically engineer T cells to recognize and kill cancer cells. Went public in 2014. Backed by Alaska Permanent Fund, ARCH Venture Partners, Venrock & Bezos Expeditions.
DBV Technologies (2002, Bagneux, IPO) – Epicutaneous immunotherapy for the treatment of various kinds of food and pediatric allergy. Went public in 2012. Backed by InnoBio Fund, Lundbeckfond Ventures and others.
Stemcentrx (2008, SF, $474M) – Antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) to target cancer stem cells. Backed by Founders Fund, Artis Ventures and Fidelity Investments.
Immunocore (2008, Abingdon, $320M) – Developing Immune mobilizing mTCR Against Cancer (IImmTACs) that enable the immune system to recognize and kill cancerous or bacterially/virally infected cells. Backed by Eli Lilly, Malin Corporation, and Woodford Investment Management.
Gene Therapy
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (Cambridge, 2002, IPO) – Developing therapeutics based on RNA interference (RNAi) for the treatment of rare genetic & cardio-metabolic diseases. Went public in 2004. Backed by Takeda Pharmaceutical, Genzyme and others.
Audentes Therapeutics (2013, SF, $137.5M) – Developing treatments for rare muscle diseases using adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy technology. Backed by OrbiMed Advisors, Deerfield Capital Management, Redmile Group, Sofinnova Ventures and others.
Moderna Therapeutics (2010, Cambridge, $675M) – Messenger RNA-based therapeutics that produces human proteins or antibodies inside patient cells for rare diseases & cancer. Backed by Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Flagship Ventures, and others.
Editas Medicine (2013, Cambridge, IPO) – Developing therapeutics based on CRISPR/Cas genome editing technology to treat the underlying cause of a broad range of diseases at the genetic level. Backed by Flagship Ventures, Polaris Partners, Third Rock Ventures and others. Went public in 2016.
Microbiome Therapy
Seres Therapeutics (2010, Cambridge, IPO) – Ecobiotic microbiome therapeutics to treat dysbiosis in the colonic microbiome. Went public in 2015. Backed by Flagship Ventures, Enso Ventures, Nestle Health Science, Mayo Clinic and Alexandria Venture Investments.
C3 Jian (2005, LA, $105M) – Pathogen-specific antimicrobial peptide therapeutics to treat & prevent diseases caused by microbial dysbiosis. Backed by Renaissance Health Service Corp., Wyssta Investments, and Corvesta.
Evelo Therapeutics (2015, Cambridge, $35M) – Discovering & developing Oncobiotic therapies through the systematic understanding of cancer associated microbiome & bacterial immune activators. Backed by Flagship Ventures.
Synthetic Biology
Intrexon Corporation (1998, Blacksburg, IPO) – Employs modular DNA control systems to enhance capabilities, improve safety & lower cost in human therapeutics, protein production, industrial products, agricultural biotechnology, and animal science. Went public in 2013. Backed by Third Security and NewVa Capital Partners.
Twist Bioscience (2013, SF, $133M) – Developing a semiconductor-based system for synthetic DNA manufacturing. Backed by Illumina, Tao Venture Partners, ARCH Venture Partners and Paladin Capital Group.
Ginkgo Bioworks (2008, Boston, $54M) – Engineering microbes to produce cultured ingredients such as flavors, fragrances, cosmetics, and sweeteners. Backed by Viking Global Investors, Felicis Ventures, OS Fund and others.
Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine
Semma Therapeutics (2014, Boston, $44M) – Developing a cell therapy for Type 1 diabetes. Backed by MPM Capital, Fidelity Biosciences, ARCH Venture Partners, and Medtronic.
Humacyte (2004, Morrisville, $217.5M) – Developing human tissue-based products for vascular disease & replacement of anatomical conduits. Backed by Access Industries, Bangkok bank, Pacific Eagle Asset Management and Reignwood Group.
Xeltis (2006, Zurich, $66M) – Developing bioabsorbable synthetic heart valves & vascular grafts aimed at restoring healthy valve and vessels. Backed by Kurma Life Science Partners, Life Sciences Partners and VI Partners.
Gamida Cell (1998, Jerusalem, $84M) – Developing treatments for orphan hematological diseases & malignancies using stem cells and NK cells. Backed by Auriga Partners, Israel Healthcare Ventures and Novartis.
Omics
Adaptive Biotechnologies (2009, Seattle, $409M) – Engages in immune-based discoveries & diagnostics by combining high-throughput sequencing & bioinformatics to profile immune cell receptor genes. Backed by Matrix Capital, Rock Springs Capital, Viking Global and others.
Metabolon (2000, Durham, $56M) – Metabolomics for advancing biomarker discovery, diagnostic tests, and personalized medicine. Backed by Camden Partners, The Aurora Funds and others.
Assurex Health (2006, Mason, $92M) – Offers a platform technology for clinicians to determine the right medication for patients suffering from neuropsychiatric conditions. Backed by Claremont Creek Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Allos Ventures and others.
Oxford Nanopore Technologies (2005, Oxford, $404M) – Developing nanopore-based electronic systems for analysis of single molecules including DNA, RNA, and proteins. Backed by IP Group, Illumina, Lansdowne Partners and others.
Leaderboard includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.
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