Aura Biosciences, a biotech company developing highly tumor-oriented breakthrough therapies for rare cancers, has secured a $21M Series B funding round. The financing was led by Advent Life Sciences, with the participation of new investors, Chiesi Ventures, Ysios Capital and Alexandria Venture Investments. Existing investors, including LI-COR Biosciences and Henri Termeer, former Chief Executive Officer of Genzyme, also participated in the financing process. The funding will be used to advance Aura’s unique and novel therapies into clinical trials for the treatment of rare eye cancers and to further develop its first-in-class technology for additional cancer indications, which was discovered and developed in partnership with Dr. John Schiller of the National Cancer Institute (NCI)
‘With Aura’s technology, once the product has been confirmed in the clinic, patients with rare eye cancers will have access to non-invasive, targeted therapy for the first time and in the near future. ”
‘Our investors share our vision and our belief that our technology will make it possible to develop advanced therapy for orphan cancers without effective treatment,’ said Elisabet de los Pinos, founder and CEO of Aura Biosciences. ‘Our lead product focuses on the treatment of life-threatening ocular cancers for which no targeted or FDA-approved treatments are available. We are dedicated to providing this patient population with first-in-class treatments that can both eliminate the tumor and preserve vision. ”
Aura Biosciences’ platform is based on viral nanoparticles, a new class of drugs that exploit the potential of a unique cancer targeting cell. The technology has been discovered and developed in partnership with Dr. John Schiller’s Laboratory at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Dr. Dr. Schiller is the recipient of President Obama’s National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the nation’s highest honor for technological achievement.
Nanoparticles show highly selective targeting of solid tumors and metastases while leaving normal epithelium untouched. Aura’s lead product incorporates a viral nanoparticle conjugated with a potent cell-killing laser-activated molecule (IRDye 700DX, LI-COR Biosciences) that is delivered efficiently and selectively to cancer cells, reducing or eliminating the risk of non-specific activity and/or undesirable toxicity. Aura Biosciences and the NCI generated a large body of in vitro and in vivo data showing highly selective tumor uptake in multiple animal models and providing strong preclinical validation of the technology platform.
‘Aura Biosciences is developing first-in-class drugs for rare eye cancers that can improve patient outcomes and positively impact patient lives,’ said Dale Pfost, general partner at Advent Life Sciences. ‘The data generated from Aura’s platform suggest that there is a great potential to treat ocular cancers in a completely novel way with a high tumor specificity along with a maximum drug and laser penetration that can eliminate tumors without damaging other ocular structures. ”
‘There is a tremendous unmet need for therapies that can help those with rare diseases,’ said Henri Termeer, former Chief Executive Officer of Genzyme, a pioneer in developing drugs for orphan indications. ‘With Aura’s technology, once the product has been confirmed in the clinic, patients with rare eye cancers will have access to non-invasive, targeted therapy for the first time and in the near future. ”
In conjunction with the financing, Dale Pfost, Advent Life Sciences General Partner, Art Pappas, CEO of A. Oh, M Pappas & Associates and Joël Jean-Mairet, Managing Partner at Ysios Capital, will join the Aura Board of Directors. Current Board Member Alan Walts, former Head of Genzyme Ventures, will become Chairman of the Executive Board. In addition, Alison Lawton, former Chief Operating Officer of Genzyme and former COO of OvaScience, will be appointed Chief Operating Officer.
About Aura Bioscience
Aura Biosciences applies nanotechnology to the fight against cancer Its novel viral nanoparticle technology, developed in partnership with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), explores the potential of viral evolution and tumor targeting for cancer treatment. Visit www for more information. Aurorabiology Come on,
About Advent Sciences of Life
Advent Life Sciences is one of the leading European venture teams to invest in business in life sciences The team consists of professionals with extensive scientific, medical and operational experience and a long-standing record of entrepreneurial success and investment success across the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States. The firm invests in a wide range of sectors in life sciences, primarily in new drug discovery, enabling technologies and medical technology. The achievements of the last three years include Algeta, Avila, CN Creative, EUSA and Micromet. Current investment includes Acutus, Biocartis, Cellnovo, F2G, NeRRe and Versartis. Please visit www for more information. Adventures Come on,
About the Chiesian Ventures
Chiesi Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on rare and orphan disorders. Our goal is to complement the strategic interest of the Chiesi Group by investing in early development opportunities. Chiesi Ventures also aims to accelerate the expansion of the Chiesi network in the US among universities, venture capital investors, rare disease patient organizations and entrepreneurs developing rare disease treatments. Please visit www for more information. Cheesiventures Come on,
About the capital of Ysios
Ysios Capital is a leading Spanish venture capital firm providing private equity financing to early and mid-stage human health and life science companies with a special focus on pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and medical devices. Founded in 2008, Ysios Capital has € 118 million of assets under management distributed over two funds. The second fund has a target size of EUR 100 million and will remain open to new investors until September 2015. See www for further information The capital of ysios Come on,
Investments in Alexandria Venture
Alexandria Venture Investments is the strategic venture capital arm of Alexandria Real Estate Equity, Inc. (NYSE: AR) Founded in 1994, Alexandria is the largest and leading investment-grade real estate investment trust (REIT) focused primarily on owning, operating and developing high-quality, sustainable real estate for the broad and diverse life science and technology industries. In 1996, Alexandria founded Alexandria Venture Investments to actively invest in the cutting edge of novel, breakthrough discoveries in biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, research tools, medical devices, digital health and technology. Alexandria is uniquely positioned to fund life science and advanced technology companies based on its experience and in-depth understanding of these industries, its long-term relationship with leading investors and its world-class international scientific advisory network. Please visit www for more information. Are you Come on,
Biosciences of LI-COR
LI-COR Biosciences is a leading manufacturer of near-infrared and chemiluminescence imaging platforms, analysis software, and IRDye infrared dye reagents for drug discovery, life science and pre-clinical imaging. Founded in 1971, the privately owned company is based in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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