First Celiac Disease Patient Dosed in Calypso IL-15 Monoclonal Antibody Trial
Calypso Biotech, a leading biotechnology company in the development of Interleukin-15 (IL-15) targeted therapies, announces today completion of the dosing of its first Celiac Disease patient in a Phase 1 clinical trial of CALY-002, a novel humanized monoclonal antibody neutralizing IL-15.
CALY-002 – a novel humanized monoclonal antibody neutralizing IL-15
The clinical study of CALY-002 which is currently underway includes a single ascending dose in Healthy Volunteers, now successfully completed, as well as ascending dosing of cohorts of patients with Celiac Disease and Eosinophilic Esophagitis, two indications with significant unmet medical need where IL-15 plays a crucial role.
Calypso raises total financing of €28M in Series A
In line with its exciting clinical progression, Calypso Biotech has raised an additional €8M to the 2019 Series A round, bringing its total Series A financing to €28M from new and returning investors. Fountain HealthCare Partners joins renowned syndicate of Gilde Healthcare, Inkef Capital, Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Inc. (JJDC), and the company’s founding investor M Ventures. Dr. Ena Prosser from Fountain’s Dublin (Ireland) office has also joined the Board of Calypso Biotech.
Proceeds to accelerate development of CALY-002
The additional proceeds of the Series A will be used to accelerate the development of CALY-002 in the core gastroenterology indications, to further de-risk the asset, and develop a solid translational package to reinforce the development of CALY-002 in additional auto-immune disease indications.
Senior clinical management expansion
The biotechnology firm is now expanding the senior clinical management to reflect this important transition to clinical evaluation. Dr Jos G.A. Houbiers MD, PhD joined Calypso Biotech as Chief Medical Officer on June 1st. Dr Houbiers brings to Calypso Biotech over 25 years of experience in pharmaceutical clinical development from large pharma companies and from biotech, where he has implemented medical and clinical development strategies, creative trial design and comprehensive medical safety monitoring across therapeutic areas, including immunology, urology and pain. He most recently served as Chief Medical Officer at Summit Therapeutics. Dr. Houbiers has received his MD from Leiden University Medical Center and PhD (immunology) and MSc in medicine from Leiden University.
Alain Vicari, CEO of Calypso Biotech, commented:
“We are delighted to welcome Dr Jos Houbiers to the team and to announce the extension of the Series A syndicate with Fountain Healthcare Partners. This further validates our ability to attract high-quality investors, and bodes well for our future fundraising campaign. These funds will accelerate the development of CALY-002 and bring us one step closer to propose a new treatment paradigm for auto-immune diseases to patients in need.”
About Calypso Biotech BV
Calypso Biotech BV is a private biotechnology company with a key focus on R&D of novel biologics to address the unmet medical needs in immunological diseases, with unique expertise in IL-15 biology. IL-15 controls immune pathways critically involved in disease onset and maintenance, as well as tissue destruction, in addition to its broad effect on inflammation. Calypso’s approach brings notable advantages over traditional cytokine interventional therapies, and could provide for unprecedented long-lasting disease-modifying effects in multiple auto-immune diseases.
Calypso Biotech is a spin-off by the healthcare business of Merck KGaA and is headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, with offices and laboratories in Geneva, Switzerland. The Company raised their initial Series A funding in 2018 with Gilde Healthcare, Inkef Capital, Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Inc. (JJDC), and the company’s founding investor M Venture; Fountain Healthcare Partners joined this syndicate in 2021. For more information see www.calypsobiotech.com.
About Fountain Healthcare Partners
Fountain Healthcare Partners is a life science venture capital fund with offices in Dublin, and New York. Founded in 2008, Fountain is Ireland’s largest dedicated life science venture capital fund with more than €300 million under management. Fountain invests in entrepreneurs and companies with disruptive technologies or products that have a clear pharmacoeconomic benefit and a defined pathway to commercialisation, value enhancement and exit. Fountain typically leads or co-leads its investments and has sourced private and public deals from start-ups, corporate spin-outs and turnaround situations. The three principals at Fountain Healthcare Partners Fund III, Manus Rogan, Aidan King and Ena Prosser brings to investees more than 70 years of joint experience in the pharmaceutical industry, corporate venture capital and VC across multiple investments and market cycles. For more information www.fh-partners.com.
About Gilde Healthcare
Gilde Healthcare is a specialized European healthcare investor managing €1 billion ($1.2 billion) across two fund strategies: venture & growth capital and private equity. Gilde Healthcare’s venture & growth capital fund invests in health tech and therapeutics. The venture & growth companies are based in Europe and North America. Gilde Healthcare’s private equity fund invests in profitable European lower mid-market healthcare companies with a focus on the Benelux and DACH region. The private equity fund targets healthcare providers, suppliers of medical products and service providers in the healthcare market. For more information www.gildehealthcare.com.
About INKEF Capital
INKEF Capital is an Amsterdam-based venture capital firm that focuses on long-term collaboration and active support of innovative technology companies. INKEF Capital was founded in 2010 by Dutch pension fund ABP and with €500 million under management is one of the largest venture capital funds in the Netherlands. INKEF focuses on investment opportunities in Healthcare, Technology, IT/New Media & FinTech. For more information www.inkefcapital.com.
About Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Inc.
Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Inc. is the venture capital subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson that has been investing since 1973 in the medical device, diagnostic, pharmaceutical, and consumer health areas. JJDC’s goal is to create opportunities that meet the strategic needs of its operating affiliates while providing visibility to innovative emerging technology, businesses and business models. JJDC invests in companies across the continuum from early-stage seed investments to advanced stages of series venture management. For more information www.jjdc.com.
About M Ventures
M Ventures is the strategic, corporate venture capital arm of Merck. Its mandate is to invest in innovative technologies and products with the potential to significantly impact the company’s core business areas. From its headquarters in Amsterdam and offices in the US and Israel, M Ventures invests globally in transformational ideas driven by great entrepreneurs. M Ventures takes an active role in its portfolio companies and teams up with entrepreneurs and co-investors to translate innovation towards commercial success. M Ventures has a significant focus on early-stage investing and company creation including the creation of spin-offs to leverage the company’s science and technology base. For more information www.m-ventures.com.
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