DNA Damage Response Innovator Artios Pharma Secures $115M in Series D Funding
Artios Pharma, a pioneering biotech company focused on developing DNA damage response (DDR) inhibitors for cancer treatment, has successfully raised $115 million in a Series D financing round. This significant investment will accelerate the clinical development of the company's lead candidates and expand its innovative pipeline.
Advancing Clinical Programs
The new funding will primarily support the advancement of Artios' two lead candidates:
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Alnodesertib: This ATR inhibitor is currently being evaluated in combination with chemotherapy for pancreatic and colorectal cancers. The Series D funds will enable Artios to expand enrollment in ongoing mid-stage studies, particularly focusing on patients with ATM-negative tumors. Notably, alnodesertib has shown promising results in early trials, demonstrating a 50% confirmed overall response rate in patients with ATM-negative solid tumors when combined with low-dose irinotecan.
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ART6043: A first-in-class DNA polymerase theta (Polθ) inhibitor, ART6043 is set to enter Phase 2 trials for BRCA-mutant HER2-negative breast cancer. Artios plans to study this candidate in patients eligible for PARP inhibitor treatment, potentially offering a new therapeutic option for this patient population.
Strategic Focus on DNA Damage Response
Artios' approach centers on targeting proteins involved in DNA repair mechanisms within cancer cells. This strategy builds upon the success of PARP inhibitors, aiming to discover the "next generation" of impactful pathways in cancer treatment.
CEO Mike Andriole explained, "Of course, the only way to prove that is in a randomized study." The company plans to initiate a trial next year comparing the combination of ART6043 and a PARP inhibitor against a PARP inhibitor alone, potentially demonstrating superior efficacy and durability of response.
Financial Outlook and Investor Confidence
The oversubscribed Series D round was co-led by SV Health Investors and RA Capital Management, with participation from new investor Janus Henderson Investors and strong support from existing backers. This latest investment brings Artios' total funding to over $435 million since its inception.
Nikola Trbovic, Managing Partner at SV Health Investors, commented on the financing: "This new funding and the recent appointment of Mike Andriole as CEO are exciting steps in Artios' continued growth and its transition toward becoming a commercially oriented organization."
The substantial funding is expected to extend Artios' operational runway well into 2027, by which time the company anticipates having data from both of its leading programs. This financial stability allows Artios to remain private while advancing its clinical pipeline, with the flexibility to explore future options as data becomes available.
References
- A ‘DNA damage repair’ drugmaker raises $115M for cancer treatments
Artios Pharma, which looking for newer targets that, like PARP inhibitors, affect the way tumors fix themselves, said its Series D round will help advance ongoing mid-stage studies.
- Artios Pharma secures $115M series D to ramp up clinical efforts with DNA damage response pipeline
The biotech will use the funds to extend its clinical ambitions for its pipeline of DNA-damage-response-inhibiting cancer prospects.
Explore Further
What are the key scientific advantages of Artios Pharma's DNA damage response inhibitors compared to existing cancer treatment options?
Who are the main competitors in the DNA damage response inhibitor space, and how does Artios Pharma differentiate itself from them?
What are the primary challenges Artios Pharma may face in advancing its lead candidates, alnodesertib and ART6043, through later-stage clinical trials?
What is the estimated market size for the potential treatments targeting ATM-negative tumors and BRCA-mutant HER2-negative breast cancer?
How does the transition toward becoming a commercially oriented organization impact Artios Pharma's strategic planning and future financing options?