A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting startups globally
RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – BIOPHARMA
- Gene editing startup CRISPR Therapeutics files for $90M IPO. Link
- AC Immune lines up a $68M IPO on NASDAQ for the development of liposomal therapeutic vaccines. Link
- Dermatology biotech Novan goes for $60M IPO. Link
- Oral pain specialist Thar Pharmaceuticals files for a $50M IPO. Link
- Moderna enters new growth phase with the closing of $474M equity financing and its first BARDA grant for up to $125M for Zika mRNA vaccine. Link
- Denali snags $130M, deals in quest to summit Alzheimer’s, ALS, Parkinson’s. Link
- Arcus Biosciences emerges from stealth mode with $120M in financing and an approach for personalized immunotherapy. Link
- Third Rock backed Relay Therapeutics launches with a $57M Series A for its protein motion platform. Link
- Peloton Therapeutics raises $52.4M Series D for its renal cell carcinoma drug. Link
- Proclara gets $47M to target protein misfolding in Alzheimer’s and beyond. Link
- Delinia raises $35M Series A round from Sofinnova Partners and Atlas Ventures for autoimmune R&D. Link
- Allergan acquires autoimmune company Vitae Pharmaceuticals for $639M cash. Link
- Allergan acquires gene therapy company RetroSense Therapeutics for $60M, adding optogenetics technology to company’s eye care pipeline. Link
- Pfizer signs an $250M deal with OncoImmune for its CTLA4 antibody. Link
- Bayer and CRISPR Therapeutics $335M gene editing joint venture, named Casebia Therapeutics. Link
SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND
LEADER BOARD – BIOPHARMA
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. Backed by Alaska Permanent Fund, ARCH Venture Partners, Venrock & Bezos Expeditions. Went public in 2014.
Stemcentrx (2008, SF, $500M, Acq.) – Antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) to target cancer stem cells. Backed by Founders Fund, Artis Ventures & Fidelity Investments.
Tesaro (2010, Waltham, $366M) – Developing a novel PARP inhibitor (Nilaparib), which is currently in phase III for Ovarian and Breast Cancers. Backed by KPCB, NEA, Interwest, Venrock and others.
Symphogen (2000, Lyngby, $360M) – Recombinant polyclonal antibodies (rpAb) for the treatment of cancer. Lead product, Sym004 being investigated two clinical studies for metastatic colorectal cancer and NSCLC. Backed by Novo, PKA, Danica Pension, Essex Woodlands Health Ventures and others.
CureVac (2000, Tubingen, $350M) – Prophylactic and therapeutic application of messenger RNA (mRNA). Lead programme RNA based immunotherapy for prostate cancer and NSCLC. Backed by Dievini Hopp, Bill & Melinda Gates, Northview Ventures and others.
Infectious Disease
Crucell (1993, Leiden, $443M) – Vaccines for Cholera, Influenza and others. Backed and later acquired by J&J.
Melinta Therapeutics (2000, New Haven, $388M) – Antibiotics for drug resistant antibiotics. Lead Candidate delafloxacin, currently in Phase 3 for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI). Backed by Vatera Healthcare Partners, Malin Corporation, Warburg Pincus, ABS Ventures and others.
Chimerix (2002, Durham, $217M) – Dveloping anti-viral therapeutics. Lead candidate (CMX001 – a viral dsDNA inhibitor) has completed phase III and is about to submit the data. Backed by Canaan Partners, Sanderling Ventures, Asset Management Ventures and Frazier Healthcare Partners and others.
Nabriva Therapeutics (2001, Vienna, $193M) – Developing leuromutilin class of antibiotics. Lead product lefamulin has completed Phase II for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection. Development of alternate formulations for other indications underway. Backed by OrbiMed, Vivo Capital, Novartis Venture Fund, Phase4 Partners and others.
CNS Disease
Alkermes (1987, Dublin, IPO) – Small Molecule therapeutics and drug delivery technologies for multiple Psychiatric diseases. Recently backed in a $250M private equity round of funding from Invesco Perpetual. Went public in 1991
Denali Therapeutics (2015, SF, $347M) – Founded by Ex-Genentech Neuroscience experts with plans to target Neurodegenerative Diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s) with targeted therapies based on genetic stratification of patient populations. Raised a record series A from Alaska Permanent Fund, ARCH, Flagship, F-Prime Capital.
ReNeuron Group (1997, Guildford, $216M) – Stem Cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Pre-clinical candidates for Stroke, Parkinson’s, Huuntingon’s, Retinitis Pigmentosa and Diabetes. Backed by Neil Woodford.
TauRx Pharmaceuticals (2002, Singapore, $177M) – Tau Aggregation Inhibitor against Alzheimers and Fronto Temporal Dementia. Lead candidate LMTX in phase 3. Backed by Temasek, DBS, Dundee Corp. and Genting.
Rare Disease
UniQure (Amsterdam, 1998, IPO) – First and currently the only gene therapy product to receive regulatory approval in the European Union (Glybera). Developing other AAV-based gene therapies for Hemophilia and CHF. Backed by Coller Capital, Chiesi Pharmaceuticals, Hercules Technology Growth Capital and BMS. Went public in 2014
PTC Therapeutics (South Plainfield, 1998, IPO) – Small Molecule Drugs for Cystic Fibrosis and Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy caused by nonsense mutations. Backed by Bay City Capital, Credit Suisse, Novo A/S, Vulcan Capital, Delphi Ventures, HBM BioVentures and others. Went public in 2013
Chiasma (Jerusalem, 2001, IPO) – Developing oral forms of existing injectible therapies for orphan diseases using their Transient Permeability Enhancer technology. Backed by MPM Capital. Abingworth, ARCH Venture Partners, F2 Ventures and others. Went public in 2015
aTyr Pharma (San Diego, 2005, IPO) – Using physiocrine biology to develop protein therapeutics against rare diseases with an immune component. Lead candidate Resolaris completed Phase Ib/II trail to treat adult facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) patients. Backed by Alta Partners, Polaris Partners, Cardinal Partners, Sofinnova Ventures and others. Went public in 2015
Alexion (1992, Zurich, $152M) – Maker of Soliris, a drug used to treat the rare disorders atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). 2015 approvals for two Enzyme Replacement Therapies (Strensiq for hypophosphatasia and Kanuma for Lysosomal Acid Lipase Deficiency). Backed by BB Biotech, Pemira, Connecticut Innovations and Invesco Perpetual.
Cardiovascular Disease
Portola Pharma (2003, SF, IPO) – Small molecule therapies for thrombosis, other hematologic disorders and inflammation indications. Backed by Sutter Hill Ventures, MPM Capital, D.E. Shaw & Co., Abingworth, Frazier Healthcare Partners and others. Went public in 2013
Relypsa (2007, Redwood City, IPO) – Non-absorbed polymeric drugs cardiovascular and renal disease. Backed by OrbiMed Advisors, 5AM Ventures, Delphi Ventures, New Leaf Venture Partners and others. Went public in 2013
DalCor Pharma (2015, Montreal, $150M) – Lead molecule Dalcetrapib (earlier shelved by Roche) is currently in phase III trials for the treatment of a genetic subpopulation of patients suffering from Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). Backed by Sanderling Partners, Connecticut Innovations, Fonds de solidarité FTQ and CPDQ Cardiorentis (2010, Zug, $119M) – Natriuretic peptides for the treatment of acute heart failure and related cardiovascular diseases. Lead product Ularitide is in Phase III development. Backed by Healthcare Royalty Partners.
Metabolic Disease
Orexigen Therapeutics (2002, La Jolla, IPO) – Maker of Contrave (naltrexone HCl and bupropion HCl extended release) against Obesity. Backed by Morgenthaler, KPCB, Sofinnova Ventures, Domain Associates and others. Went Public in 2007
Intarcia Therapeutics (1997, Boston, $1.13B) – Developing a drug-device combo (exenatide delivered by a subcutaneous osmotic mini-pump) for diabetes. Backed by NEA, Venrock, Silicon Valley Bank, Interwest Partners and many others.
NGM Biopharmaceuticals (2007, SF, $303M) – Biologics for the treatment of cardio-metabolic diseases & hepatic diseases. Backed by The Column Group, Prospect Venture Partners, Rho Capital Partners and others.
Genfit (1999, Loos, $174M) – Small molecule therapeutics for cardiometabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. Flagship product Elafibranor for NASH is currently in phase 3. Collaborations with Sanofi-Aventis, Solvay group, Servier, and Merck.
Motus Therapeutics (2008, Boston, $125M) – Developing peptide therapeutics for the treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases; and obesity, including obesity caused by genetic deficiencies in the MC4 pathway. Backed by NEA, Orbimed, Third Rock Ventures, Pfizer and others.
Hua Medicine (2010, Shanghai, $125M) – Developing a 4th gen glucokinase (GKA) in-licensed from Roche to treat Type 2 Diabetes. Backed by Venrock, Fidelity Growth Partners, ARCH Venture Partners, Eight Roads Ventures and others.
Contract Research and Manufacturing
Patheon (2010, Durham, $1.4B, Acq) – Manufacturing prescription and OTC products in solid, semi-solid, liquid, and sterile dosage forms. Offering a range of specialized pharmaceutical development capability, including high-potency, sterile, lyophilization, and controlled-release. Backed by JLL partners and Advent Morro Equity Partners.
Pharmaron (2003, Beijing, $320M) – R&D services in synthetic and medicinal chemistry, biology, DMPK, pharmacology and toxicology for Biopharma industry. Backed by CITIC M&A Fund, Legend Capital, Aisling Capital and DCM Ventures.
Precision for Medicine (2011, Checy Chase, $225M) – Integrated infrastructure and services for biopharma drug development for the era of precision medicine. Backed by TPG Capital, Oak Investment Partners, J.H. Whitney & Co and others.
JHL Biotech (2012, Hsinchu, $81M) – Contract research and manufacturing solutions for biologic medicines in Asia. Backed by Milestone Capital, Milestone Capital China, Liwick Investment Management, Sungent BioVenture.
Leaderboard includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.