Be Biopharma, a Cambridge, MA-based company which specializes in the discovery and development of engineered B Cell Medicines (BCMs), raised $82M in funding.
Backers included ARCH Venture Partners, Atlas Venture, RA Capital Management, Alta Partners, Longwood Fund, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Takeda Ventures.
The company intends to use the funds to achieve clinical proof of concept for BE-101 and to advance the development of BE-102.
Led by CEO Joanne Smith-Farrell, Be Biopharma provides Engineered B Cell Medicines (BCMs) to improve the lives of patients who are living with Hemophilia B and other genetic diseases, cancer, and other serious conditions.
BE-101 is a first-in-class BCM that is engineered to insert the human Factor IX (FIX) gene into primary human B cells, allowing for continuous expression of active FIX for the treatment of hemophilia B. BE-101 has the potential to express sustained therapeutic FIX activity levels with a single infusion while having the flexibility to be titrated and/or re-dosed, and without the need for preconditioning. The potential to maintain therapeutic FIX activity levels while the reducing dosing frequency associated with current FIX replacement regimens could address the considerable infusion burden associated with current therapies and potentially drive reductions in the annualized bleeding rates and FIX usage. The US FDA cleared the BE-101 IND in May of 2024, and granted Fast Track designation in September of 2024. The Phase 1/2 BeCoMe-9 Trial has been initiated.
FinSMEs
23/10/2024