Immuno-oncology company Immunexcite will use the funding, provided by backers including Sanofi and Partners Healthcare, to choose a lead program for clinical studies.

US-based immuno-oncology product developer Immunexcite closed an $8.6m series A-1 round yesterday that included corporate venturing units Sanofi-Genzyme BioVentures and Partners Innovation Fund.

The funds, which invest on behalf of pharmaceutical company Sanofi and healthcare provider Partners HealthCare respectively, were joined in the round by hedge fund sponsor Cormorant Asset Management.

Immunexcite is developing cancer treatments based on its Mabxcite immunotherapy platform, and the financing will support the completion of studies it is conducting to determine a program that will…