Hillstar Bio Secures $67M Series A Financing to Advance Precision Immunotherapies for Autoimmune Diseases

On March 25, Boston — Hillstar Bio, a leading biotechnology company focused on developing next-generation precision immunotherapies for autoimmune diseases, announced the successful completion of a $67 million Series A financing. The funding was led by a consortium of experienced investors and shareholders from the United States, Europe, and Asia, including Droia Ventures, Frazier Life Sciences, Novo Holdings, LifeArc Ventures, and Hummingbird Bioscience.

Hillstar Bio is revolutionizing the treatment of autoimmune diseases through a precision-driven approach that selectively depletes pathogenic cells while preserving healthy ones. This method offers the potential for durable remission and improved patient outcomes compared to traditional immunosuppressive therapies. Additionally, the company’s versatile approach employs tailored discovery technologies for each therapeutic modality, unconstrained by conventional drug development platforms.

The new funding will propel Hillstar Bio's leading project into clinical trials by 2026, which specifically targets TRBV9+ T cells. Initially, the focus will be on treating axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) and potentially other immune and inflammatory conditions associated with HLA-B27. The investment will also support the expansion of Hillstar Bio’s portfolio, which includes various precision immunotherapies targeting specific immune cell subsets for a range of autoimmune diseases.

Hillstar Bio CEO Robert Mabry said:"In autoimmune diseases such as AxSpA, the interaction between HLA-B27 and TRBV9+ T cells presents a unique opportunity for our leading project. Compared to current treatment methods, our innovative approach aims to deliver more durable and effective outcomes, improve patient prognosis, and potentially reduce the long-term need for immunosuppressive therapies."

Hillstar Bio has a world-class team with deep expertise in antibody engineering, immunology, and clinical development. The company’s approach combines cutting-edge scientific knowledge with robust risk mitigation strategies, leveraging proven technologies and disease-specific biomarkers to identify patient populations most likely to benefit from treatment.

Luc Dochez, Executive Chairman of Hillstar Bio and Managing Partner of Droia Ventures, stated:"We are thrilled to collaborate with the Hillstar Bio team to bring groundbreaking, precision-driven immunotherapies to patients suffering from autoimmune diseases. Hillstar Bio possesses the critical elements needed to transform the treatment of autoimmune diseases, including top-tier antibody engineering capabilities, a deep understanding of immune cell biology, and an exceptional team of scientists, industry leaders, and advisors."

The company's leadership includes: Hillstar Bio Executive Team

Dr. Robert Mabry, CEO, former Chief Scientific Officer of Orna Therapeutics and Global Head of Biologics at Takeda

Dr. Mitchell Keegan, Chief Development Officer, formerly Senior Vice President of Clinical Development at Boston Pharmaceuticals and Vice President of Clinical Development at Verastem

Dr. Lauren Mifflin, Chief Operating Officer and Company Founding Leader of Frazier Life Sciences, was a founding team member of several venture-backed biotechnology companies, including Ypsilon Therapeutics, Nido Biosciences, and Entrada Therapeutics.