Grey Wolf Therapeutics has closed an oversubscribed $49 million Series B financing co-led by Pfizer Ventures and Earlybird Venture Capital, with investment from Oxford Science Enterprises, British Patient Capital, Canaan and Andera Partners.
Proceeds will support the continued development of the company’s first-of-its-kind immuno-oncology approaches designed to overcome key resistance mechanisms through the creation of novel cancer antigens.
This includes the advancement of the company’s lead asset, GRWD5769, into a Phase I/II clinical trial in the first half of 2023.
Grey Wolf Therapeutics’ strategy is centred on generating entirely novel immune responses against tumours, thereby overcoming key resistance mechanisms to current immuno-oncology therapy such as poor tumour recognition by T cells and T cell exhaustion.
This is achieved through targeted inhibition of the endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidases (ERAP1 or ERAP2), which drives the generation and presentation of novel and potent cancer antigens to the surface of tumour cells, in turn eliciting a de novo T cell response against tumours.
The company intends to initiate an adaptive Phase I/II clinical trial evaluating the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of GRWD5769, including a planned combination with the PD-1 inhibitor Libtayo (cemiplimab), in a range of solid tumour types.
Additionally, the company will direct a portion of the Series B proceeds to follow-on programmes including efforts focused on ERAP2 inhibition and the identification of entirely novel cancer antigens that can be targeted with MHC Class I directed therapies, such as soluble T cell receptor (TCR) and TCR mimic bispecifics.
“This syndicate of leading life science industry investors brings a wealth of relevant expertise and resources to Grey Wolf at a critical time in our evolution as we prepare to enter the clinic,” said Peter Joyce, Chief Executive Officer of Grey Wolf Therapeutics.
