Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc., a San Diego, CA-based biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of innovative human therapeutics to treat liver disease and oncology, closed a $20m Series B financing.
This round, which will remain open for an additional period as other potential investors conclude their diligence, was led by new investor AgeChem Venture Fund, with participation from existing investors Aberdare Ventures, Advent Venture Partners, Bay City Capital, Gilde Healthcare Partners, and Roche Venture Fund.
The company intends to use the funds to advance the clinical development of CTS-1027, a novel clinical-stage drug candidate Conatus has licensed from F. Hoffman-La Roche, Ltd. and is the subject of multiple Phase 2 clinical trials in hepatitis C (HCV)-infected patients.
In conjunction with the round, Louis Lacasse from AgeChem will join the company’s board, which currently includes:
– Steven J. Mento, Ph.D., Co-founder, President and CEO of Conatus,
– Paul Klingenstein from Aberdare Ventures,
– Shahzad Malik, M.D., from Advent Venture Partners,
– William Gerber, M.D., from Bay City Capital,
– Marc Perret from Gilde Healthcare,
– David Hale
– Hal Van Wart, Ph.D.
Conatus was founded by the executive management team of Idun Pharmaceuticals in July 2005 following the sale of Idun to Pfizer.
FinSMEs
11/02/2011