Researchers from Generate Biomedicines Inc. have detailed the discovery and preclinical characterization of GB-0669, a spike S2-targeted monoclonal antibody (MAb) being developed for the prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Machine learning models were used to identify MAbs targeting the conserved S2 stem helix and RBD class IV region of spike.

With one program in the clinic and another not far behind, Generate Biomedicines Inc. raised $273 million in a series C financing to advance its generative biology platform. It is one of the largest venture capital (VC) rounds for a U.S. company in 2023. Funds will go toward advancing the Somerville, Mass.-based company’s 17 pipeline programs, including the filing of multiple IND applications in 2024.

A potential $1.9 billion-plus deal with Amgen Inc. in hand, Generate Biomedicines Inc. CEO Michael Nally said his firm’s approach “can take a couple of years off traditional complex protein design” by way of combining in silico work with wet lab capabilities. The pact brought $50 million up front for Cambridge, Mass.-based Generate, with the bigger money possible on the back end plus royalties on any resulting products.

Generate Biomedicines Inc., a company building a machine learning platform to discover new protein therapies, raised $370 million in series B financing supported by its founder, Flagship Pioneering, and institutional co-investors. Its team plans to have multiple preclinical programs by year-end with several moving to the clinic in 2023.