Capstan Therapeutics – a biotechnology company focused on advancing in vivo reprogramming of cells through RNA delivery using targeted lipid nanoparticles (tLNP) – announced the successful closing of a $175 million oversubscribed Series B financing.
The Series B funding round was led by RA Capital Management, with participation from new investors Forbion, Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Mubadala Capital, Perceptive Advisors, and Sofinnova Investments. And Capstan’s existing investors, Alexandria Venture Investments, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, Leaps by Bayer, Novartis Venture Fund, OrbiMed, Pfizer Ventures, Polaris Partners, and Vida Ventures, also participated in the round.
The proceeds from the Series B funding round will be used to advance CPTX2309, Capstan’s lead in vivo chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) candidate, to early clinical proof-of-concept in autoimmune disorders and further develop Capstan’s tLNP pipeline.
CPTX2309 (a Capstan tLNP platform product) delivers an mRNA payload encoding an anti-CD19 CAR to CD8-expressing T cells, effectively engineering CAR-T cells in vivo. This approach’s therapeutic goal is to reset the immune system through rapid deep B cell depletion in blood and lymphoid tissues without the challenges of conventional ex vivo CAR-T.
The company also revealed the appointment of Nanna Luneborg, Ph.D., MBA, General Partner at Forbion, to its Board of Directors.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are proud to support Capstan and their mission to lead in vivo CAR-T. Our conviction in Capstan is a result of the confluence of a differentiated platform technology that enables efficient T cell engineering, the platform’s ideal application in a large autoimmune market being disrupted by ex vivo CAR-T therapy, and a seasoned management team that is working tirelessly to advance this technology into patients.”
– Nandita Shangari, Ph.D., Managing Director at RA Capital Management
“This Series B financing brings together an exceptional syndicate of investors that recognize the potential of Capstan’s in vivo CAR-T technology. We are grateful for the support of both new and existing investors as we enter a critical phase of execution, with the ultimate goal of bringing new therapeutic modalities to patients.”
– Laura Shawver, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Capstan
