Avalyn Pharma found strong investor interest in its inhalable drugs in development for two types of pulmonary fibrosis, enabling the company to upsize its IPO. Data from two mid-stage studies are expected in 2027.

The post Avalyn Pharma Takes a Breath to Raise $300M in IPO Cash for Lung Drug Trials appeared first on MedCity News.

Coultreon Biopharma’s lead drug candidate, acquired from Galapagos, is a small molecule designed to selectively inhibit a novel immunology target called SIK3. The Series A financing will support Phase 2 clinical trials in psoriasis and ulcerative colitis.

The post Immunology-Focused Coultreon Adds $125M for Pills That Pack the Punch of Injectable Biologics appeared first on MedCity News.

Kurma Partners’ new fund is the venture capital firm’s fourth and largest. Previous Kurma investments have led to exits that include the acquisitions of Corlieve Therapeutics, Emergence Therapeutics, and Amolyt Pharma.

The post VC Firm Kurma Partners Closes €215M Fund in Pursuit of ‘Disruptive Therapeutic Solutions’ appeared first on MedCity News.

Tortugas Neurosciences’ two lead programs are in-licensed oral small molecules in development for schizophrenia and tinnitus. The startup is led by veterans of Sage Therapeutics, a neuroscience biotech that was acquired last year.

The post Neuro Startup Tortugas Unveils $106M and a Pipeline of Drugs for the Brain appeared first on MedCity News.

Kailera Therapeutics’ IPO proceeds will support global clinical trials for its obesity drug candidates. Meanwhile, proteomics company Alamar Biosciences upsized its own IPO while clinical-stage biotechs Seaport Therapeutics and Hemab Therapeutics joined the IPO queue.

The post Kailera’s Upsized IPO Brings In $625M for Pipeline of Injectable & Oral Obesity Drugs appeared first on MedCity News.

Sidewinder Therapeutics and Stipple Bio each raised mega-rounds of financing to support their approaches to improving the targeting abilities of antibody drug conjugates for cancer. Both startups are on track to enter the clinic next year.

The post Two New Takes on Making a Type of Targeted Cancer Therapy Even Better appeared first on MedCity News.

Waiv, formerly the diagnostics division of AI biotech Owkin, developed AI-enabled testing technologies that found use in clinical settings and in cancer drug research. Spinning out as an independent company enables Waiv to pursue its own growth strategy, co-founder and CEO Meriem Sefta said.

The post Startup Waiv Spins Out of Owkin With $33M to Bring AI Precision to Cancer Decisions appeared first on MedCity News.

Vima Therapeutics is expanding to Parkinson’s disease following early clinical results showed proof of concept for its drug in isolated dystonia, a rare neurological movement disorder. The startup says its drug could address the biology underpinning many movement disorders.

The post Startup Vima Adds Parkinson’s to Movement Disorder Scope, Expanding Series A Round to $100M appeared first on MedCity News.

The Series B extension brings Atavistik Bio’s Series B financing to $160 million. The startup’s lead program is in development for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), an inherited bleeding disorder.

The post Startup Atavistik Adds $40M for Clinical Trial in Rare Bleeding Disorder With No Approved Therapies appeared first on MedCity News.

Slate Medicines’ antibody drug is designed to block PACAP, a protein associated with migraines. The Phase 1-ready asset was licensed from China-based DartsBio Pharmaceuticals.

The post Headache Startup Slate Medicines Lands $130M to Bring Novel Migraine Drug Into the Clinic appeared first on MedCity News.

Korsana Biosciences’ preclinical Alzheimer’s disease drug comes from a platform technology that enables antibodies to cross the blood-brain barrier. Roche and AbbVie have clinical-stage drugs taking a similar approach to Alzheimer’s.

The post Startup Korsana Bio Reveals $175M Raised for a Better Brain-Penetrating Alzheimer’s Drug appeared first on MedCity News.

Across all industries, the total number of companies on track to go public could make this week the most active for IPOs since 2021. Despite the partial government shutdown, there are paths biotechs can pursue to the public markets.

The post The 4 Biotech Companies on Track to IPO this Week Despite the Government Shutdown appeared first on MedCity News.

Fortitude Biomedicines is developing antibody drug conjugates that use targeted protein degraders as their therapeutic payloads. The startup joins a group of degrader ADC (or DAC) developers that includes Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer.

The post Startup Fortitude Bio Launches to Beat Drug Resistance in Cancer, Expand ADCs to Autoimmune Disease appeared first on MedCity News.

Merida Biosciences is developing antibody-like drugs designed to selectively eliminate disease-driving autoantibodies while sparing healthy components of the immune system. Graves’ disease, which stems from the immune system’s attack on the thyroid gland, is the startup’s lead disease target.

The post Immunology Startup Merida Bio Unveils $121M and a Lead Program for Graves’ Disease appeared first on MedCity News.

Investing in reproductive health is not only a strategic financial move but also a moral imperative. By channeling our investment dollars into the critical areas described above, we can support innovative solutions, expand access to essential services, and uphold the fundamental rights of women across the nation.

The post Investing in Reproductive Health Companies Post-Dobbs: A Moral and Strategic Imperative appeared first on MedCity News.

The funding landscape for women’s health companies is getting better, partially due to more women getting promoted at VC firms and social media, execs said during a recent panel.

The post How Women’s Health Conversations With Investors Have Evolved appeared first on MedCity News.

Eli Lilly is among the new investors joining the Series B round of Arkuda Therapeutics, a biotech developing a drug to treat a rare, inherited form of dementia. If the biotech’s approach works, it could also have applications in other neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

The post Neuro-focused Arkuda raises $64M as dementia drug moves closer to the clinic appeared first on MedCity News.

Biotech startup Congruence Therapeutics is developing novel drugs that treat disease by stabilizing misfolded proteins. Key to the company’s approach is a computational platform that discovers and designs these small molecule stabilizers.

The post AI-driven Congruence Therapeutics gets $50M to stabilize misfolded proteins appeared first on MedCity News.

Dewpoint is developing drugs targeting biomolecular condensates, tiny droplets in cells that contain proteins and nucleic acids. Dysfunction of these organelles can play a role in a wide range of diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders and cardiovascular disease.

The post SoftBank leads Dewpoint’s $150M round as multiple programs march toward clinic appeared first on MedCity News.

Leyden Labs is developing nasal spray medicines to prevent respiratory viral infections. The company’s Series B round of funding follows a licensing deal that gives the biotech rights to a Janssen antibody designed to address the two types of influenza that cause seasonal flu.

The post Following Janssen flu deal, Leyden Labs gets $140M led by Casdin Capital and GV appeared first on MedCity News.

BenchSci’s technology uses artificial intelligence to make drug R&D faster and more efficient. Big pharmaceutical companies and clinical-stage biotechs are current users of the software, and BenchSci said it will use its new funding to expand the technology.

The post AI firm BenchSci raises $50M for tech that takes waste out of preclinical research appeared first on MedCity News.

Eleusis is developing a formulation of the psychedelic compound psilocybin that overcomes limitations of pill versions of the drug. Depression is Eleusis’s lead disease target but the biotech notes that its research has shown the potential to bring psychedelic drugs beyond psychiatry.

The post Psychedelic biotech Eleusis enters SPAC deal to take depression drug to the clinic appeared first on MedCity News.

Despite the targeted approach of some cancer treatments, tumors can find ways to escape, leading patients to relapse. ImmPACT Bio will apply its Series B financing toward the development of cell therapies designed to prevent tumor escape.

The post ImmPACT Bio reels in $111M to prevent tumor escape with novel cell therapies appeared first on MedCity News.

ProKidney is going public in a SPAC merger that infuses the biotech with $825 million for Phase 3 tests and manufacturing of its autologous cell therapy for chronic kidney disease. More than slowing the decline in organ function, ProKidney says its cell therapy offers the potential to reverse injury caused by the condition.

The post Regenerative med biotech ProKidney inks merger to get $825M for CKD cell therapy appeared first on MedCity News.

Digital health company Verana Health has raised $150 million. The company said it will use the new capital to expand its technology, which is used by physicians and pharmaceutical companies.

The post J&J’s investment arm joins $150M investment in digital health firm Verana appeared first on MedCity News.

Three life science companies unveiled Series B rounds of funding Thursday, early Christmas gifts that top $219 million combined. Along with Verge Genomics, the other companies that raised new capital are Tasso and Brainomix.

The post Eli Lilly joins Verge Genomics’ $98M round as AI-discovered ALS drug nears clinic appeared first on MedCity News.

Odyssey Therapeutics is the latest startup formed by serial biotech entrepreneur Gary Glick. Odyssey’s destination is oncology and immunology drugs that address novel disease targets, and the biotech now has $218 million in Series A financing to fuel the journey.

The post Cancer & immunology biotech Odyssey embarks with $218M, Gary Glick at helm appeared first on MedCity News.

Nabla Bio emerged from the lab of famed Harvard scientist George Church last year, and its antibody discovery technology has already led to five partnerships with pharma and biotech companies. The startup just closed an $11 million seed financing that will support further development of its technology.

The post Harvard spinout Nabla Bio lands $11M to bring AI technology to antibody design appeared first on MedCity News.

AviadoBio’s gene therapies are designed to achieve widespread distribution throughout the central nervous system. The company’s lead program on track to begin human testing as a treatment for frontotemporal dementia.

The post Biotech startup AviadoBio emerges with $80M for neuro disorder gene therapies appeared first on MedCity News.

Radiopharmaceuticals deploy radiation to damage cancer DNA, but Curie Therapeutics sees these therapies opening the door to a wider range of ways to kill tumors. The startup has raised $75 million in Series A financing to advance its research.

The post Curie Therapeutics unveils $75M to widen scope of radiopharmaceuticals for cancer appeared first on MedCity News.