UK biotech CellCentric is getting a $35 million boost from RA Capital to further develop its multiple myeloma pill.
The capital infusion will help CellCentric get its drug, inobrodib, through mid-stage studies. Inobrodib is an inhibitor of two closely related proteins called p300 and CBP, and the drug aims to cut the expression of certain key cancer-driving genes.
CellCentric is primarily studying it in combination with the multiple myeloma drug pomalidomide and the steroid dexamethasone in patients whose disease has returned or stopped responding to other therapies.
Many other drug developers working on multiple myeloma have turned to more complex biologic drugs, like T cell engagers. “There’s been a huge wave of enthusiasm for antibody-based products,” CellCentric CEO Will West said.
“The clear distinction for us is that a lot of new agents are being tested in specific academic research centers. They have to be done in certain settings because they require hospitalization because they’re infusions, injections or are complicated to deliver,” West said, referring also to cell therapies.
He told Endpoints News the company plans to include community treatment centers in its pivotal clinical study.
“That means we’ve got a lot of patients that haven’t got other options, and therefore will be interested in getting on our study,” West said. “We can treat people that don’t have access to this type of new therapy usually, so we can address some of those health inequalities.”
The investment arm of the American Cancer Society is also contributing $700,000. The nonprofit’s CEO Karen Knudsen served as an advisor to CellCentric until recently. A previous $25 million loan from Pfizer’s venture arm is converting to equity.
And as a result of the investments, Pfizer Ventures partner Irena Melnikova and RA Capital Management principal Laura Stoppel will join CellCentric’s board.
Editor’s note: This story was corrected to reflect that Karen Knudsen recently stepped down from advising CellCentric.