US-based T-cell receptor therapy developer TScan Therapeutics closed a $100m series C round yesterday featuring internet and technology group Alphabet’s GV subsidiary and Novartis Venture Fund, part of pharmaceutical firm Novartis.
The round included 6 Dimensions Capital, the biotech investment firm co-founded by a subsidiary of pharmaceutical firm WuXi AppTec, as well as Longwood Fund, Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP) and Pitango Venture Capital (through subsidiary Pitango HealthTech).
RA Capital Management filled out the round with funds and accounts managed by BlackRock. and two unnamed healthcare-focused funds.
TScan is working on T-cell therapies for solid tumours and blood-borne cancers. Its candidates are also being explored as potential infectious and autoimmune disease treatments.
Proceeds from the round will support the company in its selection of lead programmes for further development, with two anticipated to enter the clinic later this year.
A further three candidates could begin clinical development in 2022, and TScan has also entered a discovery-stage partnership with Novartis.
The company closed a $35m series B round in January 2020 co-led by Astellas Venture Management and Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, on behalf of pharmaceutical firms Astellas and Novartis, with participation from GV, 6 Dimensions Capital, Longwood Fund and BVP.
The round followed a $25m series A closed at an undisclosed date when TScan was in stealth mode. Longwood Fund has been identified as its founding investor, while GV, Novartis Venture Fund, 6 Dimensions and BVP were all named as existing investors in the series B round.