Drug Farm announced the successful first closing of its $55 million Series D financing to advance its clinical and preclinical development pipeline. The round was co-led by Shanghai Pudong Leading Area Investment Center and Shanghai Puxing Collaborative Private Equity Fund Partnership Enterprise. New investors in the financing included Tukar Capital, Fuzhou Xinhe Fund, Shenzhen Luohu Donghai Chempartner Investment Fund, and Keyuan Pharma. Existing investors also participated, including BioVeda China Fund, YD Capital, Jiashan State VC, Detong Capital, Wedo Capital, and Biometas.
Drug Farm plans to use the proceeds to support the continued advancement of its clinical and preclinical pipeline. The funding will also accelerate global clinical development programs, strengthen regulatory activities across key markets, and expand the company’s research and development capabilities.
Drug Farm is developing treatments for ROSAH syndrome, heart and kidney diseases, hepatitis B, and metabolic diseases. The company’s proprietary platforms combine genetics and artificial intelligence to identify, validate, and advance novel drug targets.
The company’s IDInVivo+ platform integrates genetics and AI to identify and validate drug targets directly in living systems. Drug Farm’s MedChem5 platform is being used to advance multiple first-in-class drug candidates into clinical development.
One of the company’s lead programs is DF-003, a proprietary first-in-class drug developed by MedChem5 that inhibits ALPK1 and its disease-causing variants. Drug Farm said DF-003 has demonstrated evidence of clinical improvement across multiple symptoms of ROSAH syndrome in an ongoing Phase 1b study.
Drug Farm said DF-003 is among the first AI-developed drugs expected to enter a Phase 3 trial. The company plans to use the financing to advance DF-003 by completing a pivotal trial in ROSAH syndrome and achieving clinical proof of concept in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
DF-003 also has therapeutic potential for heart and kidney diseases based on efficacy observed in preclinical models. The drug has received Fast Track, Orphan Drug, Rare Pediatric Disease, and Rare Disease Evidence Principles designations from the FDA.
Drug Farm is also advancing DF-006, a proprietary first-in-class orally administered ALPK1 agonist immunomodulator designed to stimulate local innate immunity in the liver. DF-006 has completed single and multiple ascending dose evaluation in healthy volunteers, as well as multiple ascending dose evaluation in virologically suppressed HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B patients, where encouraging anti-HBV activity was observed.
Drug Farm and Xiamen Amoytop Biotech have entered into a clinical collaboration to develop DF-006 for the treatment of hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma.
The financing positions Drug Farm to continue moving AI-enabled drug candidates through global development while expanding its work in metabolic, autoimmune, infectious disease, cardiovascular, kidney, and rare disease indications.
KEY QUOTES:
“The successful completion of this financing represents an important milestone in Drug Farm’s mission to develop first-in-class drugs for the world. We are pleased to welcome our new investors while receiving continued support from our long-term shareholders, reflecting strong confidence in the company’s scientific innovation, development strategy, and long-term vision. We believe this financing positions Drug Farm to create significant value for patients, partners, and shareholders in the years ahead.”
Dr. Tian Xu, Founder and Chairman of Drug Farm
“We are delighted to complete this financing and grateful for the continued confidence and support from our investors. We are proud that DF-003 is amongst the first drugs developed with AI and entering a Phase 3 trial. The investment provides additional resources to advance DF-003 through the completion of a pivotal trial in patients with ROSAH syndrome and clinical proof of concept in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The funds will also be used to continue clinical development of DF-006 in patients with hepatitis B.”
Dr. Henri Lichenstein, Chief Executive Officer of Drug Farm
“Powered by IDInVivo+ and MedChem5, our proprietary platforms combining genetics and artificial intelligence continues to discover and validate novel drug targets and rapidly advance multiple first-in-class candidates into the clinic. This financing will help us bring additional breakthrough therapies to patients with unmet needs in metabolic and autoimmune diseases.”
Dr. Tony Xu, Chief Operating Officer of Drug Farm
