Kytopen Corp. has received a phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant of $1.6 million from the NIAID/NIH to support preclinical studies of its engineered natural killer (NK) cells. The funding will be used to conduct in vivo preclinical studies, which will be conducted by Charles River Laboratories
Abata Therapeutics Inc. announced it has received an equity investment from Bristol Myers Squibb to support the development of its Treg cell therapy products. Their investment supports Abata's continued advancement into the clinic, with trial initiation imminent for ABA-101 in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Abata obtained FDA clearance for a first-in-human study of ABA-101 in patients with MS in July.
Kalm Therapeutics Inc. disclosed a $700,000 oversubscribed closing of its seed round, which will be used to complete regulatory activities outlined in Kalm’s pre-IND meeting with the U.S. FDA, fund personnel and transfer the company’s patch production to a manufacturer.
Kano Therapeutics Inc. announced it has secured $5 million in seed funding, bringing its total funding to date to $7.1 million. The company plans to use the funding to begin internal pipeline development of ex vivo genetic medicines based on kilobase gene insertion, expand its existing therapeutic collaborations to initiate externally driven preclinical programs, and scale its production capacity.
Halda Therapeutics Inc. announced it has secured an additional $126 million in funding in a series B extension, bringing its total funding to date to $202 million. The company expects its lead molecule HLD-0915 to enter a phase I trial in the first half of 2025 for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
Immunotherapy-focused biotech company LTZ Therapetics Inc. raised $20 million in a series A round that will advance development of its myeloid engager pipeline to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases. Proceeds from the funds will accelerate development of lead asset LTZ-301, which is expected to enter the clinic in early 2025, LTZ founder and CEO Robert Li told BioWorld.
Big pharma continues to invest heavily into molecular glue degraders. The latest deal has Eisai Co. Ltd. striking up a research collaboration that could bring Seed Therapeutics Inc. up to $1.5 billion in up-front and milestone payments. The two said they plan to discover, develop and commercialize MGDs for several undisclosed neurodegeneration and oncology targets.
Nammi Therapeutics Inc. has announced a $1 million investment commitment by the Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF) in a $30 million series B financing round prior to the planned start of a first-in-human phase I study of the company’s QXL-138AM in patients with locally advanced unresectable and/or metastatic solid tumors and multiple myeloma.
Shinobi Therapeutics Inc. has been awarded non-dilutive grant funding of up to $59 million by the Japanese Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED).
Release Therapeutics SA has announced that it has secured CHF3.3 million (US$3.87 million) in seed funding. The proceeds will be used to finance primate studies of the company’s cell macroencapsulation technology for use in metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD).