Eight Innovative Biopharma Companies Secure New Funding, Two from China

Dec 09, 2024 11:04 CST Updated 11:04

Yafei Biomedical

Biomedical Technology Developer

JUPITER NEUROSCIENCES

New Drug Developer

SIGNET

Innovative Targeted Cancer Drug Developer

▎WuXi AppTec Content Team Report

According to the Immediate Drug Database, last week (December 2nd ~ December 8th), globallyAt leastThere is8 companiesNew锐公司, dedicated to innovative drug研发, announced the completion of a new round of融资, including 2 companies from中国. These新锐公司 that have gained the favor of the capital market are currently in the process of开发.Innovative small molecule conjugate drugs, bispecific antibodies, peptide drugs, small molecule activator drugs, etc.Drug Type, focusing on disease areas covering cancer, neurological disorders, and metabolic diseasesetc.。

Yafei Biomedical

Financing Round:Series B2

Financing Amount:Over 400 Million Yuan

On December 2, Yafei Biomedical, the parent company of Shanghai Qinheli Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd. (referred to as "Qinheli"), announced the completion of its B2 round of financing, with an investment exceeding 400 million RMB in this round.This round of financing was led by SDIC Capital, with participation from Huachuang Capital, Hongcheng Investment, Guozheng Investment, Guosheng Capital, Hongfu Assets, Anxin Guosheng Microchip Fund, Guoyuan Innovation Investment, and Hongyao Sci-Tech Innovation.。Qinhe Force is committed to the research, development, production, commercialization, and external collaboration of innovative anti-cancer drugs. It focuses on enhancing efficacy and reducing toxicity for molecules that are potentially effective against target mechanisms but have strong toxicity, aiming to address the significant unmet clinical needs in the current field of cancer treatment.

Affinity Company has builtOnly activated in the tumor microenvironmentThe multi-specific intelligent conjugate drug technology platform, includingTumor Microenvironment-Activated Small Molecule Conjugates, Tumor Microenvironment-Activated Antibodies, Bispecific Antibodies, and Tumor Microenvironment-Activated ADCsAn integrated R&D innovation system centered around this has developed more than 20 innovative drug candidates for the treatment of major diseases such as cancer.Among them, the company's independently developedTumor Microenvironment-Specific Activation of Small Molecule Conjugate Drug LegubiximabThe registrational clinical trial is about to be unblinded.

Jupiter Neurosciences

Financing Round: IPO

Financing Amount: $11 million

On December 2, Jupiter Neurosciences announced the pricing of its $11 million initial public offering and listing on Nasdaq. Jupiter is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company currently focused on the development of innovative therapies for central nervous system disorders and rare diseases. The company’s JOTROL™ delivery platform allows resveratrol to be administered in an easy-to-consume oral softgel capsule form. Delivered through the JOTROL™ platform,Resveratrol is injected into the plasma and central nervous system, crossing the blood-brain barrier, releasing the compound's potential to treat neurodegenerative and neurological diseases without causing gastrointestinal issues.Based on this platform, Jupiter Neurosciences, Inc. is developing aEnhanced oral resveratrol formulation designed to provide a safe, therapeutically relevant level of resveratrolThe proceeds from this IPO will help advance its candidate product into Phase 2 clinical trials in patients with Parkinson's disease.

SIGNET

Financing Round: Pre-A Round

Financing Amount: Over 70 Million Yuan

On December 3, SIGNET announced that it had secured over 70 million yuan in Pre-A funding and project grants. This round of financing will be used to support the Phase 1 clinical trial of its leading pipeline SIGX1094 and expedite the IND application process for its second pipeline. Signet Therapeutics was founded at the end of 2020 by an exceptional team of scientists, including members from Harvard University's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The company’s founders discoveredNew Target for Diffuse Gastric Cancer, and utilizing organoid disease models combined with AI technology to develop SIGX1094, the first targeted drug for diffuse gastric cancer. This drug has currently received IND approval from the U.S. FDA and China's NMPA, entered Phase 1 clinical trials, and was recently granted Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. FDA.

Maze Therapeutic

Financing Round:Series D

Financing Amount: $115 million

On December 3, Maze Therapeutics announced the completion of a $115 million Series D financing round. This round was co-led by investors Frazier Life Sciences and Deep Track Capital. Maze Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company.Aiming to harness the power of human genetics to develop novel small-molecule precision therapies for patients with kidney, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases.。

According to the press release, the funds from this round of financing will support the development of Maze's leading projects, MZE829 and MZE782. MZE829 is aOral APOL1 Inhibitor, which is currently being evaluated for the treatment of APOL1 nephropathy (AKD), including patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Phase 2 trials are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2025. MZE782 is aOral SCL6A19 InhibitorMaze is currently conducting a Phase 1 trial in healthy volunteers, with plans to evaluate it as a treatment for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and phenylketonuria (PKU). Data from the Phase 1 clinical trial is expected to be released in the second half of 2025.

TRIO Pharmaceuticals

Financing Round: Unknown Round

Financing Amount: $3.1 Million

On December 3, TRIO Pharmaceuticals announced the completion of a $3.1 million financing round led by the Friedman Bioventure Fund (FBVF).TRIO Pharmaceuticals Focuses on Developing Bispecific Antibody Cancer ImmunotherapiesAccording to the press release, the proceeds from this round of financing will be used to accelerate TRIO's clinical trial process and the development of its drug platform. The company is developing a proprietary platform for dual-action tumor immunotherapy enhancers, aiming to treat cancers with high unmet medical needs by targeting specific antigens on cancer cells and immunosuppressive cells.

Refoxy Pharmaceuticals

Financing Round: Seed Round

Financing Amount:9.1 million euros

On December 4, Refoxy Pharmaceuticals announced that it had secured €9.1 million in seed extension financing, led by Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund (BIVF), with participation from new and existing investors such as Apollo Health Ventures. Refoxy is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company.Aimed at developing small molecule activators of the FOXO3 transcription factor for the treatment of age-related diseases.。

FOXO3Is one of the genes most closely associated with longer and healthier human life, also making it a highly regarded target for drug discovery. However,FOXO3The complex biological characteristics have limited the development of its clinical potential. Dr. Victor Bustos, together with Professor Wolfgang Link, a world-renowned FOXO3 expert, co-founded Refoxy in collaboration with Apollo Health Ventures.The company's strategic focus is to identify activators of FOXO3 through a proprietary drug discovery platform, FOXO Activator Finder (F.act finder).This round of financing will accelerate the preclinical development of Refoxy's idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) project and expand its platform to other age-related indications.

Antag Therapeutics

Financing Round: Series A

Financing Amount: 80 million euros

December 4th Update: Antag Therapeutics Announces Completion of €80 Million Series A Financing. This round was led by Versant Ventures, with participation from founding investor Novo Holdings and new investors SR One, Dawn Biopharma, and Pictet, among others. Antag Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to pioneering new therapies for obesity. According to the press release, the proceeds from this financing will be used for the clinical development of AT-7687.AT-7687 is a novel glucagon-like peptide receptor (GIPR) antagonist peptide drug administered once weekly via subcutaneous injection, designed for use in combination with current or future obesity therapies, including GLP-1 medications., in order to provide patients with better weight loss and metabolic benefits.Antag will alsoDrive the expansion of the monthly injection therapy product line.

Nuvig Therapeutics

Financing Round: Series B

Financing Amount: 161 Million US Dollars

On December 6, Nuvig Therapeutics announced the completion of a $161 million Series B financing round. This round was co-led by Sanofi Ventures, Blue Owl Healthcare Opportunities, and Norwest Venture Partners, with new investors B Capital, Leaps by Bayer, Global BioAccess Fund, LOTTE Holdings, Alexandria Venture Investments, and funds managed by abrdn Inc., as well as existing shareholders Novo Holdings A/S, Platanus, Bristol Myers Squibb, Digitalis Ventures, and Mission BioCapital participating.

Nuvig CorporationAiming to provide a novel approach to reduce autoimmune disorders without the need for immunosuppression.The funds obtained from this Series B financing will be used to support the clinical proof-of-concept study of the leading investigational therapy NVG-2089 and to advance the preclinical product pipeline.NVG-2089 is a potential "first-in-class" recombinant Fc fragment immunomodulator designed to bind to type II Fc receptors, activate endogenous regulatory mechanisms, and thereby improve autoimmune dysregulation.Nuvig CorporationNVG-2089 is advancing into Phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and other undisclosed indications.

We look forward to more cutting-edge technologies and innovative therapies benefiting patients as soon as possible with the support of the capital market.

References:

[1] Official websites of various companies and publicly available information

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