Umoja Biopharma, based on research at Purdue University and Seattle Children’s Research Institute, has picked up a series B co-led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2.
Umoja Biopharma, a US-based in vivo immunotherapy platform developer advancing research from Purdue University and Seattle Children’s Research Institute, has closed a $210m series B round co-led by telecoms group SoftBank.
SoftBank co-led the round through its Vision Fund 2 together with Cormorant Asset Management, while life sciences real estate investment trust Alexandria Real Estate Equities participated through its Alexandria Venture Investments unit.
RTW Investments, Temasek, Apeiron Investment Group’s Presight Capital, Caas Capital, an unnamed investment fund associated with SVB Leerink, MPM Capital, DCVC Bio, Qiming Venture Partners USA, Casdin Capital and Emerson Collective also took part.
Founded in 2019, Umoja is creating technologies to reprogram immune cells in vivo to treat both solid tumours and haematologic malignancies.
The series B capital has been allocated to further technology development, advancing two product candidates into the clinic and building internal manufacturing capabilities. The spinout will also look to recruit additional staff and expand its presence in Boulder, Colorado.
Umoja launched with $53m in series A financing in November 2020. The round was co-led by MPM Capital and Qiming Venture Partners USA.
MPM Capital and DCVC Bio had provided an undisclosed amount of seed capital at an unspecified date.
Qiming Venture Partners USA, Casdin Capital, Emerson Collective and Alexandria Venture Investments were all identified as returning backers for the series B round. Casdin listed Umoja as a portfolio company by November 2019, but further details could not be ascertained.
