Osage University Partners was among the investors in the University of California San Diego spinout's latest round, which will support phase 1 trial for its lead compound.
US-based human papilloma virus (HPV) treatment developer Antiva Biosciences raised $22m in a series C round yesterday featuring spinout-focused venture capital firm Osage University Partners.
Brace Pharma Capital, the strategic investment arm of pharmaceutical company EMS, led the round, which included Alexandria Venture Investments, the VC arm of real estate investment trust Alexandria Real Estate Equities, as well as NS Investment, Canaan Partners and Sofinnova Ventures.
Founded in 2012 as Hera Therapeutics, Antiva is working on topical treatments for pre-cancerous lesions caused by HPV. The company’s technology is based on research by its founder, Dr Karl Hostetler, at University of California San Diego.
Antiva recently began a phase 1 clinical study of ABI-1968, its lead compound, and aims to initiate a phase 1b study for high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, a pre-cancerous condition caused by HPV, later this year.
The funding follows a $16m series B round in August 2015 co-led by Canaan Partners and Sofinnova Ventures, which came after $4m in financing from unnamed investors in 2013 and 2014.
Vinzenz Ploerer, president and CEO of Brace Pharma Capital, has joined Antiva’s board of directors in conjunction with its investment. He said: “We are committed to the development of therapies for diseases that have a major impact on global health.
“This novel approach to a long unmet need has great potential to minimise the threat of HPV infections, which today is still leading to devastating cancers throughout the world.”
