Arvinas, a biotech spin-out of Yale University, has raised $19.25m to fund development of a new class of drugs based on protein degradation.

Of the overall fund, $15m came in the form of a series A round co-led by venture firms Canaan Partners and 5AM Ventures with participation from Connecticut Innovations and Elm Street Ventures. An additional $4.25m came from the State of Connecticut, $1m of which is in the form of equity, made through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development.

Traditional drug development approach inhibits proteins. However, only 25% of the body’s 20,000 proteins can be inhibited in this manner. Arvinas’ approach induces a cell’s own protein-degradation ability, effectively a self-destruct mechanism which removes the cell from the body entirely.

The primary focus of Arvinas’ product development is on oncology, but also could potentially be used in inflammatory, autoimmune, and rare diseases.

Tim Shannon, chief executive of Arvinas and venture partner at Canaan Partners, said: “Degrading proteins as opposed to inhibiting them has potential to open up areas of drug development that were previously closed because of the technical limitations of protein inhibition. The Arvinas technology platform represents an entirely new class of drugs bringing an innovative approach to treating disease.”