Callio Therapeutics has launched with $187 million in Series A funding. The company aims to advance its innovative antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology. This technology allows for multiple tumor-killing payloads.
The groundbreaking technology is licensed from Singapore-based Hummingbird Bioscience. Hummingbird specializes in antibody development. Callio is based in Seattle and Singapore.
It aims to enhance the efficacy of cancer treatments by focusing on HER2-positive cancers and other targets. Callio’s lead candidate targets the HER2 protein. It differentiates itself by carrying multiple payloads.
These are designed to overcome resistance seen in current ADC therapies.
callio focuses on multi-payload ADCs
Besides HER2, Callio has licensed another ADC from Hummingbird.
The target of this ADC has not yet been disclosed. Piers Ingram is the CEO and co-founder of Callio Therapeutics and Hummingbird Bioscience. He stated, “Multi-payload ADCs have the potential to enable the targeted delivery of rational drug combinations to cancer cells and may provide significantly enhanced efficacy.”
The Series A funding was led by Frazier Life Sciences.
It included nine other investors, such as Jeito Capital, Novo Holdings, and Omega Funds. Callio’s executive team includes seasoned industry professionals. These include Jerome Boyd-Kirkup, Angele Maki, and Naomi Hunder.
Hunder is the former chief medical officer of another ADC startup acquired by Genmab last year. With this substantial investment and experienced leadership, Callio Therapeutics is poised to make significant advances in the field of oncology. It has the potential to transform cancer treatment paradigms with their multi-payload ADC technology.
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