Portfolio News

ACELYRIN, INC. Announces Long-term 32-Week Data from the Phase 2b Trial of Izokibep in Hidradenitis Suppurativa Demonstrating Sustained Responses and Deepening Clinical Benefit – Improving Quality of Life for Patients

ACELYRIN, INC. (Nasdaq: SLRN), a late-stage clinical biopharma company focused on accelerating the development and delivery of transformative medicines in immunology, today announced long-term data from a Phase 2b clinical trial of izokibep in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). These data demonstrated no evidence of increased safety liability with longer-term treatment and increased duration of therapy was associated with further clinical improvements over time.

Westlake-backed Latigo Biotherapeutics Debuts with $135 Million Series A Financing to Develop Non-Opioid Pain Medicines

Westlake-backed Latigo Biotherapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing best-in-class non-opioid pain medicines that target pain at its source, today announced its emergence from stealth with a $135 million Series A financing. Westlake Village BioPartners incubated the company. Westlake led the Series A financing with 5AM Ventures and Foresite Capital as co-leads with participation from Corner Ventures.

Westlake-Backed Kate Therapeutics Debuts With $51 Million Series A to Develop Next-Generation Genetic Medicines to Treat Muscle and Heart Diseases

Westlake-backed Kate Therapeutics Inc., a next-generation gene therapy company, today emerged from stealth mode with a $51 million Series A financing co-led by founding investor Westlake Village BioPartners and Versant Ventures, with participation from Osage University Partners and UF Innovate | Ventures. In addition, the company has granted Astellas Pharma Inc. an exclusive, worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialize KT430 to treat X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM), the details of which are described in a separate press release issued today.

Kite to Acquire Westlake-backed Tmunity Therapeutics to Pursue Next Generation CAR T-Cell Therapy Advancements in Cancer

Kite, a Gilead Company (Nasdaq: GILD), and Westlake-backed Tmunity Therapeutics (Tmunity), today announced that the companies have signed an agreement in which Kite will acquire Tmunity, a clinical-stage, private biotech company focused on next-generation CAR T-therapies and technologies. The acquisition of Tmunity complements Kite’s existing in-house cell therapy research capabilities by adding additional pipeline assets, platform capabilities, and a strategic research and licensing agreement with the University of Pennsylvania (Penn)

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Westlake-Backed Dantari Launches With $47 million Series A

Dantari, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing best-in-class targeted therapeutics for the treatment of cancers and other diseases, announced its emergence from stealth mode with $47 million Series A financing. The Series A financing was led by Westlake Village BioPartners and included participation from Corner Ventures, Alexandria Venture Investments, and Caltech. The Company also announced the appointment of Richard A. Markus, M.D., Ph.D., as president and CEO, and its board of directors, chaired by Sean Harper, M.D., a co-founding managing director at Westlake.

Westlake-Backed ACELYRIN, INC. Closes $300 Million Series C Financing

ACELYRIN, INC., a Westlake-funded late-stage clinical biopharma company, will use the financing to accelerate Phase 3 development of izokibep, a unique IL-17A inhibitor to treat inflammatory diseases including psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis.

Westlake-Backed Arsenal Biosciences Closes $220 Million Series B Financing

Arsenal Biosciences, Inc., a privately held programmable cell therapy company engineering advanced CAR T therapies for solid tumors, announced the close of a $220 million Series B financing round. Proceeds from the financing will help the company expand its programmable cell therapy research activities and grow its pipeline of therapeutic candidates for solid tumor malignancies across a range of cancer indications.