press release
4BIO Capital Portfolio Company Entact Bio Launches in $81M Series A to Develop Precision Medicines for Targeted Protein Augmentation
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Our proprietary end-to-end Encompass™ platform designs enhancement targeting chimeric (ENTAC™) molecules.
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Founding team of world-class scientific leaders
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Series A follows initial seed investments from 4BIO Capital and Arkin Bio Ventures.
December 6, 2022, London & Watertown, Massachusetts – 4BIO Capital (“4BIO” or the “Group”), an international venture capital firm that unlocks the cures of the future by investing in advanced therapeutics and other emerging technologies, today announced portfolio company Entact Bio announced that it has raised $81 million in Series A funding. Funding to advance the proprietary Encompass™ platform for developing Enhanced Targeted Chimeric (ENTAC™) molecules. The Series A funding follows initial seed investments from his 4BIO Capital and Arkin Bio Ventures, which have supported and nurtured the company.
The round was co-led by Qiming Venture Partners USA and venBio Partners, with new investors Abingworth, Brandon Capital, Janus Henderson Investors, Logos Capital, Surveyor Capital (a Citadel company) and WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Sciences). Research) participated. ) and his founding investors 4BIO Capital and Arkin Bio Ventures.
With its broad utility across disease types, ENTAC has great potential to expand the druggable space and address unmet medical needs. Many diseases occur when there are functional problems with beneficial proteins that are important for cellular health. These diseases are difficult to treat with conventional small molecules, which are usually designed to inhibit disease-contributing proteins rather than enhance the function of beneficial proteins.
Owen Smith, partner at 4BIO Capital and director of Entact Bio, commented: “Since our initial seed investment, we have been amazed at the potential of ENTAC to fundamentally change the development of therapeutics. Dial upload something useful entacted This approach therefore allows us to target indications that were previously unattainable. We are proud to have supported the company in reaching this important milestone and have been able to attract a high quality syndicate of international investors. We look forward to continuing to support our company in its mission to address the needs of countless unmet patients. “
ENTAC enhances protein function by harnessing the power of enzymes called deubiquitinases (DUBs), which are key regulators of proteins in cells. Acting as a molecular matchmaker, ENTAC connects beneficial target proteins and DUBs. DUBs then selectively shorten or remove chains of molecules called ubiquitin that are attached to target proteins. Because ubiquitin plays a broad role in protein function, targeted removal of ubiquitin can enhance target protein function. Even if the target protein is missing, misplaced in the cell, or does not have optimal activity, ENTAC can be manipulated so he can recruit DUBs to solve the problem. By introducing each target into the appropriate DUB, ENTAC enhances the function of these critical proteins, ultimately restoring cellular health.
Entact’s unique end-to-end Encompass platform integrates powerful biological, chemical, and computational tools to efficiently identify disease targets amenable to ENTAC intervention, and to identify optimal targets for addressing specific targets. Select a suitable DUB and create a specific ENTAC optimized for each specific target-DUB pair. .
Entact is led by CEO Victoria Richon. Victoria Richon is a scientifically trained executive with 20 years of experience and expertise in company and team building and a proven track record in new therapeutic discovery and development. Most recently, as Founder and CEO of Ribbon Therapeutics, she led a team to develop multiple first-in-class drugs with novel mechanisms of action from inception to clinical trials.
The company’s founders bring together the various areas of expertise required to design ENTAC.
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Sara Buhrlage, PhD, Associate Professor, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School
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Dr. Michael Clague, Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, University of Liverpool
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Dr. David Komander, Head of Ubiquitin Signaling Division, WEHI
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Jarrod Marto, PhD, Associate Professor, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School
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Ueli Nachbur, PhD, Scientist Entrepreneur, WEHI
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Dr. David Sheppard, Director, Sheppard R&D Consultancy Ltd.
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Dr. Sylvie Urbé, Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, University of Liverpool
Victoria RishonCEO of Entact Bio, Said: “Our aim is to provide patients with new options by developing precision medicine that enhances the function of beneficial proteins rather than eliminating or blocking proteins that contribute to disease.” To realize our vision, we built Encompass, a proprietary platform to harness cellular mechanisms to create therapeutics that enhance protein function. It will make an important difference for patients whose needs are not adequately met by law.”
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About 4BIO Capital
4BIO Capital (“4BIO”) is an international venture capital firm focused on investing in advanced therapeutics, including genomic medicine and other emerging technologies, to unlock the cures of the future. 4BIO’s purpose is to invest in, support and grow early stage companies developing therapeutics in areas of high unmet medical need. The ultimate goal is to make these potentially curative treatments accessible to all patients. Specifically, we are looking for viable, high-quality opportunities in cell and gene therapy, RNA-based therapies, targeted therapies, and the microbiome. The 4BIO team is made up of leading advanced therapeutic scientists and seasoned Rife his science investors who have collectively published more than 250 of his scientific papers in prestigious journals including: Nature, lancet, celland the New England Journal of Medicine4BIO has both an unmatched network in the advanced therapeutic space and a unique understanding of the criteria that define successful investment opportunities in this space. For more information, LinkedIn and twitter @4 Bio Capital and visit www.4biocapital.com.
About Entact Bio
Entact Bio is a preclinical stage biotechnology company developing new classes of drugs that enhance the function of beneficial proteins. Launched by a founding team with deep roots in deubiquitinase (DUB) biochemistry, chemical biology, disease biology, and small molecule drug development, Entact has developed a proprietary portfolio to create enhancement-targeting chimeric (ENTAC™) drug products. Designed his Encompass™ platform. ENTAC exploits the ability of DUBs to regulate proteins. By harnessing this natural cellular mechanism to enhance protein function, Entact is expanding the spectrum of treatable diseases.
