Zenas Raises $200m For Bifunctional Antibody In Autoimmune Diseases

Obexelimab Is In Phase III In IgG4-Related Disease

 
• By Mandy Jackson
  
Generate a summary of this article
Listen to this article
Beta

Zenas BioPharma plans to have data from four trials – two under way and two starting this summer – for obexelimab, which targets CD19 and FcγRIIb, within about a year and a half.

Investors. Shareholders, co-owners. Startups and fundraising.
Zenas will increase its headcount by 20% • Source: Shutterstock

Zenas BioPharma is ahead of the pack compared with most companies advancing CD19-targeting therapeutics for autoimmune diseases, with plans to report Phase III results in IgG4-related disease and Phase II results in three other indications within the next year and a half or so. The company announced on 7 May that it closed a $200m series C venture capital round to finance the ambitious development program for its bifunctional antibody obexelimab while keeping an eye out for other potential drug candidates.

Key Takeaways

  • Zenas BioPharma raised a $200m series C venture capital round to generate data across four autoimmune diseases for its bifunctional antibody obexelimab targeting CD19 and FcγRIIb.

Scrip spoke with Zenas co-founder and CEO Lonnie Moulder about obexelimab, which the company in-licensed from Xencor, Inc. in...

Scrip Podcast

Keep up with the top pharma business news of the week. On the go.

Scrip brings you a weekly bulletin of top picks.

SpotifyApple PodcastsWebsite

More from Financing

More from Business

  • How A New Healthcare Dialogue Is Driving Market Access In Mexico

    Companies stand a better chance of securing public reimbursement in Mexico for innovative medicines if they understand changing approaches to healthcare. The shift means the emergence of managed entry agreements and a focus on economic impact, explains AMIIF, Mexico's research-based pharmaceutical industry association.

  • How Novartis Is Elevating CVD Outcomes, Driving ‘Personalized Access’ In APMA

    Novartis’s APMA chief outlines the company’s tailored approach to deliver long-term outcomes, novel access solutions via innovative financing options and shape the CVD disease ecosystem in the extraordinarily diverse region. Partnering to build AI infrastructure is another key prong.

  • India Rare Diseases: Court Shows Path For Policy Action, Funding, Price Issues-- Test-2

    A court order encompassing funding, drug pricing, clinical trials and overall policy implementation aspects is expected to bring about a paradigm shift in the treatment of rare diseases in India. Sarepta, Roche and Sanofi are among the key players that have been part of pricing discussions.