Be Biopharma Secures $92M Series C Financing to Advance First-in-Class B Cell Medicines for Hemophilia B and Hypophosphatasia

On January 15, B cell therapy company Be Biopharma(hereinafter referred to as Be Bio)Announced the completion of a $92 million Series C financing round. The proceeds will be used for the Phase I/II clinical trial (BeCoMe-9) concept validation of BE-101, a treatment for Hemophilia B, and to advance BE-102, a treatment for Hypophosphatasia (HPP), into clinical trials.

This round of financing includes new investors Nextech, as well as existing investors ARCH Venture Partners, Atlas Venture, RA Capital Management, and others.

Be Biopharma is headquartered in Massachusetts, USA. It was founded in October 2020 by Longwood Fund and pioneers in B cell engineering, David Rawlings and Richard James, with the aim of leveraging the rich biology and intrinsic drug-like properties of B cells to create a new type of cell therapy through precise engineering.

Engineered B-cell medicines (BCM) have the potential for durable, allogeneic, repeatable, and preconditioning-free administration. BCM can transform therapeutic biologics across protein classes, patient populations, and therapeutic areas.

BE-101 is a first-in-class BCM that inserts the human Factor IX (FIX) gene into primary human B cells, enabling sustained expression of active FIX for the treatment of Hemophilia B. In May 2024, the FDA approved the IND for BE-101, and in September 2024, it granted BE-101 Fast Track designation.

BE-102 is also a first-in-class BCM, engineered using AI-guided protein design, capable of modifying primary human B cells to produce ALP, which is aHPPThe enzyme that patients lack.

BE-101 and BE-102 are both projects based on Be Bio's powerful and efficient BCM platform, which utilizes gene editing technology to engineer B cells to continuously produce therapeutic proteins, ultimately developing drug candidates with durability, titratability, and repeatability of dosing without the need for preconditioning, holding the potential to become a best-in-class gene therapy.

In October 2020, Be Biopharma completed$52 Million Series A Financing; In April 2022, Be Biopharma completed$130 Million Series B FinancingIn October 2024, Be Biopharma completed an $82 million strategic investment. With this latest Series C financing round, Be Biopharma's total financing amount has reached $356 million.

Be Bio CEO Joanne Smith-Farrell, Ph.D., said, "With this funding, we are well positioned to advance two major programs. We expect to demonstrate clinical proof-of-concept for BE-101 in hemophilia B this year. Additionally, BE-102 is expected to enter the clinic next year."

References:

https://be.bio/be-bio-announces-closing-of-92m-series-c-financing-and-completes-transition-to-a-multi-program-clinical-stage-company/