Exo Therapeutics, US-based small molecule drug developer based on research at Harvard University and Salk Institute for Biological Studies, emerged from stealth yesterday having closed a $25m series A round featuring pharmaceutical firm Novartis, which invested through its Novartis Venture Fund.
The round included 6 Dimensions Capital, the investment firm formed by the merger of pharmaceutical company WuXi AppTec’s WuXi Healthcare Ventures unit and VC firm Frontline BioVentures, in addition to CRV and Newpath Partners.
Exo is working on a pipeline of drugs that will target secondary protein binding sites known as exosites in order to reprogram a patient’s enzyme activity to counter diseases such as cancer and inflammatory disorders.
The company’s technology is based on research by David Liu at Harvard University and Alan Saghatelian at Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
Michael Bruce, Exo’s chief executive, said: “We look to leverage our team’s unmatched expertise and focus on drugging exosites as we advance towards proof-of-concept drugs that we will progress to the clinic.
“With the support of world-class investors and rigorous foundational science, we are well-equipped to advance our pipeline of oncology and inflammation drug candidates in 2021.”
– A version of this article first appeared on our sister site, Global Corporate Venturing.

US-based small molecule drug developer Exo Therapeutics emerged from stealth yesterday having closed a $25m series A round featuring pharmaceutical firm Novartis, which invested through its Novartis Venture Fund.

The round included 6 Dimensions Capital, the investment firm formed by the merger of pharmaceutical company WuXi AppTec’s WuXi Healthcare Ventures unit and VC firm Frontline BioVentures, in addition to CRV and Newpath Partners.

Exo is working on a pipeline of drugs that will target secondary protein binding sites known as exosites in order to reprogram a patient’s enzyme activity to counter diseases such as cancer and inflammatory disorders.

The company’s technology is based on research by David Liu at Harvard University and Alan Saghatelian at Salk Institute for Biological Studies.

Michael Bruce, Exo’s chief executive, said: “We look to leverage our team’s unmatched expertise and focus on drugging exosites as we advance towards proof-of-concept drugs that we will progress to the clinic.

“With the support of world-class investors and rigorous foundational science, we are well-equipped to advance our pipeline of oncology and inflammation drug candidates in 2021.”