Plus, news about Cytokinetics, Theratechnologies, KisoJi Biotechnology and XOMA Royalty:
Senti Bio touts early Phase 1 CAR-NK data, stock soars:
Two of three patients who received the low dose of Senti’s treatment
achieved
a complete response as of the Sept. 19 data cutoff. Senti expects to enroll 20 patients in the study. Its stock rose more than 150% in premarket trading on Monday, and the company also said it
secured
a $37.6 million PIPE.
— Max Gelman
China startup nabs $42M Series A:
Allink Biotherapeutics, which was founded in 2023, is focused on bispecifics and antibody-drug conjugates. The money will
help fund
two pipeline programs called ALK201 and ALK202 through Phase 1 trials, as well as push forward other efforts in oncology and immunology. The round was led by Lanchi Ventures.
— Max Gelman
Cytokinetics’ heart drug gets FDA decision date:
The biotech
announced
that the FDA has set a deadline of Sept. 26 to decide whether to approve aficamten for a heart condition called obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The agency currently has no plans to hold an advisory committee. If approved, the treatment would compete with Bristol Myers Squibb’s Camzyos, which is currently the only cardiac myosin inhibitor approved in the US.
— Lei Lei Wu
Theratechnologies reveals financing:
The Montreal biotech
said
it could get up to $75 million from TD Bank and Investissement Québec via credit facilities. Some of the loans will go toward paying off existing credit facilities and bankroll business development. The company had about $20 million in cash at the end of November.
— Kyle LaHucik
KisoJi gets $41M to advance TROP2 program:
The company plans to
use
the money to get KJ-103, its lead compound, into Phase 1 testing for solid tumors. Funds include “the conversion of previously funded convertible debentures.” Investissement Québec and Lumira Ventures led the financing.
— Max Gelman
XOMA’s latest royalty deal:
The royalty company
bought
Pulmokine for $20 million in cash. The move gives XOMA access to a milestone and royalty stream from Pulmokine’s interest in seralutinib, the pulmonary arterial hypertension drug it licensed to Gossamer Bio. The drug is now in Phase 3, with a readout slated for late 2025.
— Kyle LaHucik