US-based cancer immunotherapy technology developer WindMIL Therapeutics closed a $32.5m series B round featuring pharmaceutical industry consulting firm FoxKiser yesterday.
The round was led by Qiming Venture Partners USA, an affiliate of the eponymous China-based venture capital firm. Medivate Partners, Domain Associates and Camden Partners Nexus also participated.
WindMIL has created a process of extracting, activating and expanding bone marrow-derived T cells to create what it calls marrow infiltrating lymphocytes (MILs), in order to treat cancer.
The company has instituted a phase 2 clinical trial for MILs in the treatment of high-risk multiple myeloma, and intends to initiate trials in solid tumours.
Brian Halak, WindMIL’s chief executive, said: “This round of funding will support the continued development of MILs both in their unmodified and genetically-modified forms.
“Preclinically, we are excited by the data we have been generating to demonstrate MILs as a superior cell source to produce next generation CAR-T cells. Finally, we are exploring proprietary gene modifications designed to counteract immunosuppressive tumour microenvironments.”
WindMIL had previously closed a $10m series A round in April 2016 according to a regulatory filing, and identified FoxKiser and Domain Associates as existing investors in the series B.
Qiming partner Mark McDade is joining WindMIL’s board of directors in conjunction with the round, as is Qiming associate Anna French.