US-based pharmaceutical company Alios BioPharma has closed a $41m series B round from a range of corporate investors.
Novo Ventures, SR One, Roche Venture Fund and Novartis Ventures, the corporate venturing units of healthcare companies Novo, GlaxoSmithKline, Roche and Novartis respectively, all participated, and the round was led by a new, undisclosed investor.
SR One invested $32m in the series A round Alios completed in June 2009, after Novo and Novartis had co-led the $24m first close, which also featured Roche.
Alios, which is using biotechnology to develop medicines for viral diseases, will invest the latest funds in developing its respiratory portfolio, including treatments to combat influenza and rhinovirus.
“We are pleased to welcome our newest investor and to have the continued support from our current investors for this round of financing,” said Alios CEO Lawrence M. Blatt. “This funding will allow Alios to retain ownership and control of our novel, first-in-class anti-respiratory virus development programmes.