Portfolio News

Arsenal Biosciences Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial of AB-2100 in Development as a Treatment for Clear-cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Arsenal Biosciences, Inc. (ArsenalBio), a clinical stage programmable cell therapy company focused on engineering advanced CAR T-cell therapies for solid tumors, today announced that the first patient has been dosed with AB-2100 in a multi-center, open-label Phase 1/2 clinical trial for patients with clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). AB-2100 utilizes ArsenalBio’s CITE (CRISPR Integration of Transgenes by Electroporation) technology to engineer T cells to selectively target the tumor and overcome the suppressive tumor microenvironment. These engineering features will potentially enable the patient’s immune system to destroy ccRCC cells without harming normal tissues.

Recludix Pharma Announces the Appointment of Dr. Ajay Nirula, Accomplished Pharma Executive and Immunology Expert, as Executive Vice President and Head of Research and Development, and Strengthens Scientific Advisory Board with the Addition of Dr. Adrian Ray

Recludix Pharma, a leader in platform approaches to discover inhibitors of challenging targets for inflammatory disease and cancer, today announced the appointment of Ajay Nirula, M.D., Ph.D., as the company’s executive vice president and head of research and development (R&D), and the addition of Adrian S. Ray, Ph.D., to its scientific advisory board (SAB).

Capsida Biotherapeutics to Present New Data on its Wholly Owned Gene Therapy Programs in Genetic Epilepsy and Parkinson’s Disease at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT)

Capsida Biotherapeutics (“Capsida”), a leading fully integrated targeted gene therapy company, developing treatments for rare and common diseases across all ages, today announced eight presentations – three oral presentations and five poster presentations – at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) 2024 Annual Meeting, taking place May 7-11, 2024 in Baltimore, MD and virtually.

ACELYRIN, INC. Announces Positive Phase 1/2 Proof-of-Concept Data for Lonigutamab, First Subcutaneous Anti-IGF-1R to Demonstrate Clinical Responses in Thyroid Eye Disease

ACELYRIN, INC today announced positive proof-of-concept data from an ongoing Phase 1/2 trial of lonigutamab in thyroid eye disease (TED). Lonigutamab is a subcutaneously (SC) delivered humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody targeting the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R), a validated mechanism of action for the treatment for TED.

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.