Upstream Bio has closed a $200m Series B funding round to enable the advancement of its investigational antibody UPB-101 for mid-stage studies in asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. The start-up will also undergo "translational, manufacturing and device development activities" to aid the launch of its Phase III development program. In addition, Thursday’s Series B raise will allow Upstream to develop a “highly differentiated target product profile” for UPB-101, which targets key upstream players early on in the inflammation signaling cascade. Enavate Sciences and Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners co-led Thursday's financing round, while Bain Capital Life Sciences and Wellington Management were among new supporters gained by Upstream during the fundraising push.
Keywords: Upstream Bio, Series B funding, investigational antibody, UPB-101, mid-stage studies, asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
Upstream Bio secures significant investment that will support further clinical research into an innovative approach to treating severe asthma. The company is working on developing highly specific antibodies targeting key upstream players that occur early on in the inflammation signaling cascade; this mechanism forms the basis of their drug discovery philosophy. With promising pre-clinical data from Astellas licensing candidate molecule