US-based biotechnology company Unum Therapeutics closed a $65m series B round today featuring biotechnology company Seattle Genetics, which committed $5m earlier this week as part of a partnership agreement.
The round featured pharmaceutical company Novo; Sanofi-Genzyme BioVentures, the corporate venturing arm of pharmaceutical company Sanofi; and Brace Pharma Capital, the investment vehicle of pharmaceutical company EMS.
New Leaf Venture Partners led the oversubscribed round which also included Cowen Private Investments, Jennison Associates, Sabby Management, Sectoral Asset Management, Wellington Management Company, Fidelity Biosciences and Atlas Venture.
Unum is working on antibody-coupled T-cell receptor (ACTR) technology. ACTR is able to instruct parts of the body’s own immune system known as T-cells to kill tumour cells.
The series B funding will enable Unum to expand its pipeline and develop a range of therapies based on ACTR.
Sanofi-Genzyme BioVentures previously contributed to a $12m series A round led by Fidelity Biosciences and including Atlas Venture in October 2014.
Earlier this week, Seattle Genetics and Unum Therapeutics signed a collaboration and license agreement that could be worth up to $615m.