Ventyx Biosciences, an Encinitas, California-based clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing a broad pipeline of potent and selective small-molecule drug candidates to treat inflammatory diseases and autoimmune disorders, raised $114m in funding.
The round was led by venBio Partners alongside new investors, including Third Point, RTW Investments, LP, Janus Henderson Investors, Wellington Management, OrbiMed, Surveyor Capital (a Citadel company), Farallon Capital, Vivo Capital, Logos Capital, Qiming Venture Partners USA, Cormorant Asset Management, and participation from founding investor New Science Ventures. In connection with the financing, Richard Gaster and Aaron Royston of venBio Partners and Jigar Choksey of Third Point will be joining the Ventyx Board of Directors.
The company intends to use the funds to clinical development of immunology programs and advance preclinical programs against novel drug targets with its prolific drug discovery engine.
Led by Raju Mohan, Chief Executive Officer, Ventyx operates an internally discovered and wholly-owned portfolio of potent and selective small molecule drug candidates that target multiple indications in the immunology space, including gastrointestinal and dermatological diseases. The company’s pipeline combines the clinical stage programs of three companies founded by Raju Mohan and New Science Ventures:
- A tissue selective S1P1R modulator for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other indications that was developed by Oppilan Pharma;
- A selective allosteric TYK2 inhibitor, developed by Ventyx, that is projected to demonstrate high efficacy and therapeutic utility across a broad range of immunological disorders; and
- The NLRP3 inhibitor program, created by Zomagen. The first candidate of this program will enter the clinic in the second half of this year.
In addition, Ventyx is leveraging its drug discovery platform to advance preclinical programs against other biologically relevant targets involved in difficult to treat inflammatory diseases and autoimmune disorders.
FinSMEs
09/03/2021