NEW YORK and LONDON, March 9,
2021 /PRNewswire/ -- New Science Ventures LLC ("NSV"),
a leading venture capital firm focused on building companies that
leverage breakthrough science to create extraordinary value,
announces that its portfolio company Ventyx Biosciences raised
$114 million from blue-chip investors
to advance a diverse pipeline of immunology
programs. Ventyx Biosciences combines assets from three
formerly independent, asset-centric companies – Oppilan Pharma
(targeting S1P1R), Zomagen Biosciences (targeting the NLRP3
inflammasome) and the original Ventyx Biosciences (targeting TYK2)
– which were founded and merged by Raju
Mohan, CEO of Ventyx Biosciences, and New Science
Ventures.
The proceeds will be used to accelerate clinical
development of best-in-class immunology programs and advance
preclinical programs against novel drug targets with its prolific
drug discovery engine.
The equity financing was led by venBio Partners alongside new
investors, including Third Point, RTW Investments, LP, Janus
Henderson Investors, Wellington Management, OrbiMed, Surveyor
Capital (a Citadel company), Farallon Capital, Vivo Capital, Logos
Capital, Qiming Venture Partners USA, Cormorant Asset Management, and
participation from founding investor New Science Ventures. In
connection with the financing, Richard
Gaster and Aaron Royston of
venBio Partners and Jigar Choksey of
Third Point will be joining the Ventyx Board of Directors.
"We are extremely proud to have the support of such prominent
investors who share our enthusiasm, dedication and vision to build
a world-class immunology company," said Raju Mohan, Chief Executive Officer of
Ventyx. "The additional capital will allow us to accelerate
our clinical development programs while simultaneously expanding
our portfolio of small molecule therapeutics with best-in-class
potential for patients with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
We have brought together a syndicate of experienced investors that
can support the long-term growth and development of our deep
pipeline of immune modulators."
Ventyx's internally discovered and wholly-owned portfolio of
potent and selective small molecule drug candidates target multiple
indications in the immunology space, including gastrointestinal and
dermatological diseases. The company's pipeline combines the
clinical stage programs of three companies founded by Raju Mohan and New Science Ventures:
- A tissue selective S1P1R modulator for inflammatory
bowel disease (IBD) and other indications that was developed by
Oppilan Pharma;
- A selective allosteric TYK2 inhibitor, developed by
Ventyx, that is projected to demonstrate high efficacy and
therapeutic utility across a broad range of immunological
disorders; and
- The NLRP3 inhibitor program, created by Zomagen. The
first candidate of this program will enter the clinic in the second
half of this year.
In addition, the company is leveraging its world-class drug
discovery platform to advance preclinical programs against other
biologically relevant targets involved in difficult to treat
inflammatory diseases and autoimmune disorders.
"The Ventyx team has done an extraordinary job of rapidly and
efficiently advancing high-quality drug candidates into the clinic
against compelling biological targets," said
Richard Gaster of venBio. "We
have been closely tracking the I&I space and are excited to
bring these assets together into one outstanding company and lead
the current financing round. We are eager to support Ventyx's
efforts to bring meaningful new treatments to patients."
"We are pleased to bring in such a distinguished group of
healthcare investors to support the development of the company's
innovative immunology programs, and we welcome Rich, Aaron and
Jigar to the Board," added Somu
Subramaniam of New Science Ventures.
About New Science Ventures ("NSV")
NSV is a leading venture capital firm focused on building
companies that leverage breakthrough science to create
extraordinary value. NSV invests in companies using fundamental,
science-based innovations and backed by strong IP protection to
address large unmet needs in Life Sciences and Information
Technology sectors. We invest in early and mid-stage companies with
a long-term view and support our companies through value inflection
points to create scalable businesses and realize value. NSV is a
founding investor in Ventyx Biosciences.
NSV was founded in 2004 and is based in New York, NY and London, UK and operates a Life Sciences
incubator in San Diego, CA.
For more information please visit:
www.newscienceventures.com
About Ventyx Biosciences, Inc.
Ventyx Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology
company advancing a broad pipeline of potent and selective
small-molecule drug candidates to treat inflammatory diseases and
autoimmune disorders. Ventyx Biosciences combines assets from three
formerly independent, asset-centric companies: Oppilan Pharma,
targeting S1P1R, Zomagen Biosciences, targeting the NLRP3
inflammasome, and the original Ventyx Biosciences, targeting TYK2.
The diversified portfolio in the newly formed joint entity includes
best-in-class, highly differentiated clinical-stage programs and
preclinical programs focused on high-value targets.
Ventyx is headquartered in Encinitas,
California. For more information about Ventyx, please visit
www.ventyxbio.com.
Contacts:
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Sylvie Berrebi/ Nathaniel Dahan PhD
/ Mark Swallow PhD
T: +44 (0)20 7638 9571
E: NSV@citigatedewerogerson.com
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SOURCE New Science Ventures (NSV)