The newly formed U.S.-based Anciata Therapeutics aims to develop to clinical proof of concept for a first-in-class therapeutic candidate with the potential to treat certain types of difficult-to-manage autoimmune disorders. The company has obtained up to USD 34 million from Swiss startup Cellestia Biotech and VC firm TVM Capital Life Science.
Anciata Therapeutics, Inc. is a special purpose company created to develop IPX-2017, a novel, orally administered therapeutic to clinical proof of concept for the treatment of autoimmune disorders. Anciata Therapeutics is fully financed by TVM Life Science Innovation II and is led by an experienced management team.
Behind the establishment of Anciata is Swiss biotech Cellestia Biotech, which is pioneering innovative therapeutics based on novel modes of action to treat autoimmune diseases and multi-drug-resistant cancers, and TVM Capital Life Science, a leading international venture capital firm focused on investing in life science innovations, with approximately $900 million under management. The two have additionally jointly invested up to USD 34 million in Anciata.
TVM will invest with its fund TVM Life Science Innovation II SCSp and will provide strategic advice to Anciata. TVM Capital Life Science and Anciata Therapeutics have the option to engage with ExploR&D, a separate research and development unit within Eli Lilly and Company that provides early development services.
Rajwinder Lehal, CEO and Board Director of Cellestia, commented: “We are thrilled to partner with TVM Capital Life Science to advance this oral first-in-class therapeutic. This collaboration with TVM underscores Cellestia’s innovative research in immunology and autoimmunity. By combining Cellestia’s scientific expertise with TVM Capital Life Science’s financial support, we see immense potential to deliver life-saving medicines to patients. Moreover, the science behind this partnership is designed to extend benefits beyond autoimmunity to patients suffering with allo-immune diseases and cancer, thereby reaching even more patients in need.”
Guido Guidi, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cellestia, describes this partnership as “a recipe for success, with an experienced team driving groundbreaking science into clinical application.”
“TVM Capital Life Science is proud to have enabled the creation of Anciata Therapeutics to develop a novel first-in-class candidate that can have an impact on challenging autoimmune indications. This investment further builds out TVM’s successful single asset focus for innovative preclinical therapeutic agents,” said Ivan Shaw, Principal of TVM Capital Life Science and Member of the Board of Anciata Therapeutics.
(Press release/RAN)
The new Swiss Venture Capital Report was published on 26 January. It analyses 304 financing rounds closed in 2020 and includes further article such as an interview with Michael Hengartner, President of the ETH Board, and a list of Swiss "soonicorns". 
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