Pyxis Oncology, a US-based cancer immunotherapy developer exploiting University of Chicago research, yesterday received $22m in a round led by Leaps by Bayer, an investment vehicle for drug and chemicals producer Bayer.
The round featured pharmaceutical firm Ipsen, as well as healthcare-focused venture fund Longwood and VC firm Agent Capital.
Founded in 2018, Pyxis Oncology is working on antibody-based immunotherapies for cancer that tackle the disease by restoring the function of damaged immune cells.
The company’s thesis focuses on the attributes of different tumour microenvironments. Specifically, it has examined tumour antigen-specific lymphocytes as a viable mechanism for tumours already prone to immune cell infiltration, while looking at tumour cell signalling in so-called “cold tumours” which are more resilient.
Pyxis Oncology’s approach extends research championed by Thomas Gajewski, a professor in University of Chicago’s departments of pathology and medicine who also leads the immunology and cancer program at University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Gajewski co-founded Pyxis Oncology alongside John Flavin, an experienced life sciences executive who previously headed an innovation and entrepreneurship program at University of Chicago, and has been appointed the spinout’s chairman.
– This article originally appeared on our sister site, Global University Venturing.