Human Immunology Biosciences (HI-Bio) – a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing targeted therapies for patients with severe immune-mediated diseases (IMDs) – recently announced the closing of a $95 million Series B financing led by new investor Alpha Wave Global. Viking Global Investors and Arkin Bio Capital participated in the financing, as did existing investors Jeito Capital and ARCH Venture Partners.
Since the company’s launch, HI-Bio advanced felzartamab, a monoclonal antibody targeting CD38 and in-licensed from MorphoSys, across indications including antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), IgA nephropathy (IgAN), lupus nephritis (LN) and primary membranous nephropathy (PMN). And felzartamab has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation and Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in PMN. HI-Bio also initiated a clinical study of HIB210, an anti-C5aR1 candidate targeting neutrophil activation and chemotaxis.
The funding from the Series B will be used to advance clinical development of felzartamab, to evaluate the clinical properties of HIB210 in healthy volunteers, and to advance a discovery-stage program targeting mast cell dysfunction toward IND-enabling studies. And in connection with the funding, the company announced that Chris Dimitropoulos, Managing Director of Healthcare Investments at Alpha Wave Global, has been appointed to the HI-Bio Board of Directors.
KEY QUOTES:
“These funds allow us to advance felzartamab, our clinically differentiated lead therapeutic candidate, through clinical readouts in multiple indications and preparation for registrational studies. We are encouraged by promising clinical data to date for felzartamab and its anti-CD38 cell depletion approach, and we look forward to new data, including Phase 2 results from an investigator-initiated trial for antibody-mediated rejection in kidney transplant patients.”
— Travis Murdoch, M.D., CEO of HI-Bio
“Immune-mediated diseases contribute to an immense disease burden which drives the need for novel targeted treatments to improve on existing therapies. HI-Bio is generating compelling clinical data demonstrating the differentiated potential of felzartamab; we look forward to continued progress for felzartamab across multiple indications with high unmet need.”
— Chris Dimitropoulos, Managing Director of Healthcare Investments at Alpha Wave Global
