UK – Grey Wolf Therapeutics, an Oxford, UK-based biotechnology company focused on generating entirely novel anti-tumour immune responses through targeted cancer neoantigen creation, raised $49M in Series B funding.
The round was led by Pfizer Ventures and Earlybird Venture Capital, with participation from Oxford Science Enterprises, British Patient Capital and existing investors Canaan and Andera Partners.In conjunction with the financing, Grey Wolf Therapeutics has announced several new appointees to its board of directors including:• Sally Dewhurst, senior associate, Oxford Science Enterprises• Emma Johnson, investment manager, British Patient Capital• Rabab Nasrallah, principal, Earlybird Venture Capital• Marie-Claire Peakman, principal, Pfizer VenturesThe company intends to use the funds to support the continued development of its immuno-oncology approaches designed to overcome key resistance mechanisms through the creation of novel cancer antigens. This includes the anticipated advancement of lead asset, GRWD5769, into a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in the first half of 2023. Led by Peter Joyce, Ph.D., chief executive officer, Grey Wolf Therapeutics is a drug discovery and development biotechnology company providing a new therapeutic approach in immuno-oncology. Its immuno-oncology approach is centered on inhibiting the endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidases (ERAP1 or ERAP2), which play a key role in the antigen presentation pathway. Inhibiting ERAP1 or ERAP2 generates novel cancer antigens and upregulates certain other neoantigens, resulting in the mobilisation of an entirely novel T cell response against the tumour that increases tumour visibility where current therapies are ineffective, and bypasses the challenge faced by current immunotherapy when once anti-tumourigenic T cells become irreversibly exhausted and hence ineffective. Based on this approach, the company is developing a portfolio of potentially first-in-class small molecules that inhibit ERAP1 or ERAP2. Its lead development candidate, GRWD5769, is a potent and selective ERAP1 inhibitor that elicits a differentiated immune response against the tumour and is entering the clinic in the first half of 2023. A second program, focused on ERAP2 inhibition, is advancing through the discovery process.26/01/2023
