Bright Peak ascends to $35m series A

Bright Peak Therapeutics, a Switzerland-based drug-protein discovery company exploiting ETH Zürich research, made its formal debut yesterday with $35m of series A funding.
The spinout has been revealed after two years behind closed doors at Ridgeline Therapeutics Discovery Engine, a biotherapeutic incubator run by venture capital firm Versant Ventures.
Bright Peak Therapeutics will develop therapeutics using a technology platform to chemically assemble new proteins while drilling down to modulate and conjugate a number of specific atoms within the structure of each potential hit.
The platform ultimately provides for the creation of conjugated candidates and drugs that address multiple molecular disease targets.
Bright Peak’s technology resulted from research led by its scientific co-founder Jeffrey Bode, a professor of organic chemistry specialised in chemical protein synthesis.
Its program initially has validated a portfolio of cytokine-based candidates with potential as cancer immunotherapies.
The series A capital will fund plans to increase Bright Peak’s staff to 30 scientists from 20 later this year. Bright Peak will also seek strategic partnerships and investments, and expects to commence clinical trials of its lead program in 2021.
The spinout’s research will be conducted from its Switzerland headquarters along with additional lab space in California.