Anaeropharma Science, a Tokyo, Japan-based biotech company, raised $13.1m in funding.
Backers included Seventure Partners (via its Health for Life Capital™ investment vehicle), Novartis Pharma and a number of Japanese investors. Following the investment, Eric de La Fortelle, Venture Partner at Seventure Partners, will have a Board observer seat in Anaeropharma’s board.
Anaeropharma Science is developing novel genetically enhanced bacteria to fight tumours. The company’s lead product APS001F (based on obligate anaerobic bacterium Bifidobacterium longum) can only proliferate in the hypoxic core of solid tumors, where it secretes the enzyme cytosine deaminase turning a systemically administered prodrug into a cytotoxic agent, which hollows out the tumor from the inside.
Anaeropharma is using the funds to conduct a Phase 1b/2a trial of APS001F in patients with advanced solid tumours in the U.S.
FinSMEs
05/07/2017