Eight Innovative Drug Companies Secure Funding, $100M Backs Respiratory Anti-Infective Vaccine Startup

Sep 30, 2024 17:08 CST Updated 17:08

BioAge

Drug Discovery Platform Developer

Vicebio

Developer of New Vaccines

Genespire

Gene Therapy Developer

▎Edited by the WuXi AppTec content team

According to incomplete statistics from Innovation Radar, last week (September 23 to September 29), the global health sectorA total of 27 financing events were disclosed, with a total amount of nearly 6 billion yuan.In terms of the amount, there were 12 financings of 100 million yuan or more. According to the disclosed financing rounds, there were 13 early-stage financings (before Series B) and 10 mid-to-late stage financings (Series B and later). A total of 8 companies in the biopharmaceutical field received financing, involving drug types including vaccines, antibodies, gene therapies, small molecule drugs, etc.

#01

BioAge Labs, Inc. Completes IPO

Keywords: Small Molecule Drugs

Latest Financing:1.98Hundred MillionUSD IPO

September 26,BioAge Labs, Inc. Listed on Nasdaq, Raising $198 Million to Advance Clinical Trials for Its Weight-Loss PipelineFocus on Obesity TreatmentClinical-stage biotechnology company.BioAge Labs' main candidate drug, Azelaprag, is an oral small-molecule drug that belongs to the Apelin receptor agonist class. The product is currently in a Phase 2 clinical trial for weight loss in combination with Eli Lilly's GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, Tirzepatide. It will also enter a Phase 2 trial in the first half of next year in combination with Novo Nordisk's weight-loss product, Wegovy.

#02

VicebioCompleted $100 Million Series B Financing

Keyword: Vaccine

Latest Financing:$100 Million Series B

This round of investment institutions: Avoro Ventures, Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Medicxi, TCG Crossover, UniQuest, etc.

On September 23, Vicebio announced the completion of a $100 million Series B financing round. The funds obtained will be used forAdvance the Phase 1 clinical trial of its bivalent vaccine VXB-241, which targets respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV).。This funding will also support the accelerated development of Vicebio's multivalent vaccine pipeline, including VXB-251, which targets RSV, hMPV, and parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3).) trivalent vaccine. Vicebio is committedFor the development of next-generation vaccines targeting respiratory viruses, utilizing its proprietary molecular clamp technology. This technology, discovered by the University of Queensland, uniquely stabilizes viral glycoproteins in a highly immunogenic pre-fusion conformation, which is crucial for eliciting a robust protective immune response.

#03

GenespireCompleted €46.6 million Series B financing

Keyword: Gene Therapy

Latest Financing:€46.6 Million Series B

This round of investment institutions:CDP Venture Capital、Sofinnova Partners、XGen Ventures

On September 25, Genespire announced the completion of a €46.6 million Series B financing round, and the funds obtained willSupport the development of the company's core candidate product GENE202 until it enters Phase 1/2 clinical trials for the treatment of methylmalonic acidemia (MMA).In addition, it will also strengthen the company’s product pipeline and promote the discovery and preclinical research of candidate therapies for a variety of other genetic diseases. GENE202 is an off-the-shelf gene therapy that utilizes the company's Immune-Shielded Lentiviral Vector (ISLV) platform and is designed for intravenous injection. The mechanism of action of ISLV makes Genespire's treatments particularly suitable for pediatric patients with genetic diseases who face the most urgent unmet medical needs, while also benefiting adult patients.

#04

Tianchen Biotech Completes Nearly 100 Million Yuan B2 Round Financing

Keyword: Antibody

Latest Financing:Nearly 100 Million B2 Round

This round of investmentStructure: Qiming Venture Capital

On September 24, Tianchen Biotech announced the successful completion of a nearly 100-million-yuan B2 round of financing. Through this round of financing, Tianchen Biotech will advance the clinical research of its core projects in China, accelerate the product launch process, and boost its international layout. Established in 2020, Tianchen Biotech is a...A Chinese biotechnology company dedicated to the development of innovative macromolecular drugs in the fields of allergy and complement.In June this year, Tianchen Bio's new-generation anti-IgE antibody drug LP-003 injection, which has been progressing rapidly, launched a Phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Additionally, LP-005, a potential "first-in-class" C5 and C3 complement bispecific antibody, has initiated a Phase 2 clinical trial for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). According to Tianchen Bio's official website, the company’s preclinical pipeline also includes the AAV-mediated complement inhibitor LP-008 project, intended for development to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD), among others.

#05

Aptadir Therapeutics Completes $1.6 Million Pre-Seed Financing

Keyword: Oligonucleotide

Latest Financing:$1.6 Million Pre-Seed Round

This round of investmentStructure: Angelini Ventures, Evotec, EXTEND

September 24,Aptadir Therapeutics Announces Official Launch, Dedicated to Developing RNA-Based Innovative Therapies for Refractory Cancers and Genetic Diseases.AptadirRaised $1.6 million in pre-seed funding from the EXTEND Technology Transfer Biotech Center forOptimize its key asset Aptadir Ce-49.The drug is under development for the treatment ofMyelodysplastic Syndromes, with the goal of entering the clinical development stage by the end of 2025.The company's technology platform is based on an RNA molecule capable of interacting with DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs).These RNA molecules can precisely block abnormal DNA methylation of specific genes, reactivating genes that were previously silenced due to hypermethylation.Hypermethylation of certain genes is a key characteristic of cancer and genetic diseases.By reactivating specific genes, it is expected to treat the root causes of certain diseases, such as myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and fragile X syndrome.

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