Chicago-based Vanqua Bio Inc. has raised $85 million in series B financing to accelerate development of its therapies tackling Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. Founded in 2019, Vanqua’s technology is focused on developing small-molecule activators of glucocerebrosidase, an enzyme that regulates levels of lipids in cells.
The market’s appetite for immunology candidates in chronic disease – in particular an oral interleukin-17 (IL-17) therapy for psoriasis – was proved by the upsized IPO pulled off by Dice Therapeutics Inc., and Tyra Biosciences Inc. benefited from the ongoing appetite in precision oncology in another, bigger-than-expected debut. Preclinical-stage Pasithea Therapeutics Inc. went public as well, albeit less spectacularly.
Abion Inc., which focuses on precision oncology, raised ₩38.76 billion (US$33.36 million) in its debut on the Korean Stock Exchange’s Kosdaq board on Sept. 8.
Biopharmas in Asia-Pacific raising money in public or private financings: Asahi Kasei, Brii, Cytovia, Haemalogix, ILC, KB Investment, Prism Biolab, RM Global Partners, Xenikos.
Nectero Medical Inc. has secured $19.5 million in a series C financing round, led by Boston Scientific Corp. The company is developing the Endovascular Aortic Stabilization Treatment (EAST) system, a treatment platform that reduces the growth rate of aortic aneurysms. EAST is currently in a multisite phase I safety study for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients and the financing will be used to fund further in vivo and clinical development.
The axolotl, which can regenerate many of its body parts, was the inspiration for Walking Fish Therapeutics Inc., which just closed on a $50 million series A financing to advance its B-cell therapies for oncology, rare disease, regenerative medicine, autoimmune disease and recombinant antibody production.