Tacalyx, a Berlin, Germany-based biotech company focused on the discovery and development of novel anti-TACA (Tumor Associated Carbohydrate Antigens) cancer therapies, secured €7m in seed funding.
The round was co-led by Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund and Kurma Partners and joined by Idinvest Partners, High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), coparion, and Creathor Ventures. In conjunction with the financing, Dr. Lena Krzyzak (High-Tech Gründerfonds), Ulrich Mahr (Max Planck Innovation), Dr. Detlev Mennerich (Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund), Dr. Peter Neubeck (Kurma Partners, Idinvest Partners), Dr. Sebastian Pünzeler (coparion) and Karlheinz Schmelig (Creathor) will join Tacalyx’s board of directors alongside Prof. Dr. Peter H. Seeberger (MPI for Colloids and Interfaces).
The company intends to use the funds to advance its discovery platform, progress obtained leads towards candidate selection and start its pre-clinical development.
A spin-out of the Max Planck Institute (MPI) of Colloids and Interfaces, Tacalyx is a private oncology company focused on the discovery and development of Tumor Associated Carbohydrate Antigen (TACA) antibodies to treat cancer. TACAs are formed during malignant transformation in a microevolutionary process. The expression of TACAs is elevated in many cancer cell types which makes TACAs attractive potential targets for cancer treatment by harnessing and directing the natural immune response. Tacalyx is developing its proprietary technology platform to exploit TACAs as novel targets for cancer therapy.
The company’s founders include:
– BIVF (represented by Dr. Detlev Mennerich, Investment manager),
– Dr. Peter Sondermann, CEO of Tacalyx,
– Prof. Dr. Peter H. Seeberger, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces, and
– Dr. Oren Moscovitz, Group leader at the MPI for Colloids and Interfaces and Max-Planck-Society (represented by Ulrich Mahr, member of the general management of Max Planck Innovation).
FinSMEs
25/09/2019