US-based genomic drug developer KSQ Therapeutics emerged from stealth today with $76m in financing from investors including life sciences real estate trust Alexandria Real Estate Equities.
The round was led by life sciences company builder Flagship Pioneering and also featured venture capital firms Polaris Partners and Arch Venture Partners.
Founded in 2015, KSQ is working on drugs based on a precision genomics platform it has developed called Crispromics, with which it aims to quickly and effectively identify therapeutic nodes that link genomic function to disease.
The company is initially focusing on oncology and immunology therapeutics, though it said it intends to eventually cover “a wide range of disease areas”.
David Meeker, KSQ’s chief executive, said: “There is a compelling need to improve the quality of drug targets and to identify patients most likely to respond because our industry and our healthcare systems are challenged by the sheer volume of potential new medicines.
“With our proprietary Crispromics engine, KSQ is positioned to play a leading role in shortening drug development timelines, increasing the rate at which meaningful medicines can reach patients, and ultimately, improving the sustainability of our healthcare systems.”