Parthenon Therapeutics Raises $65 Million in Series A Funding to Advance Oncology Programs Aimed at Reprogramming the Tumor Microenvironment
04 November 2021 - 3:30AM
Business Wire
Groundbreaking preclinical research highlights
therapeutic potential of targeting the mechanical barrier in
treating immune-excluded cancers
Parthenon Therapeutics, a biotech company inventing a novel
class of anti-cancer therapies that reprogram the tumor
microenvironment, today announced a $65 million Series A financing
led by Northpond Ventures, Pfizer Ventures, and Taiho Ventures.
Additional investors included Section 32, Breakout Ventures, funds
managed by Tekla Capital Management LLC, Creacion Ventures, KdT
Ventures, Park West Asset Management LLC, and Alexandria Venture
Investments. The company plans to use the funds to develop new
therapies that target immune exclusion in tumors.
“Parthenon was established with the goal of developing
first-in-class therapeutics that have the highest potential for
improving the survival of the greatest number of people living with
cancer,” said Laurent Audoly, Ph.D., co-founder and Chief Executive
Officer, Parthenon Therapeutics. “We’re focused on reprogramming
the tumor microenvironment to attack the protective barrier that
half of all human cancers build to repel immune attack, a novel
approach, we believe, with the potential to create an entirely new
class of anti-cancer therapies.”
Validating this approach, Parthenon also announced today the
publication of a manuscript in the peer-reviewed journal Nature
describing the role of discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) in
stabilizing the tumor extracellular matrix (ECM), which supports
exclusion of immune-cells from tumors. The manuscript — based on
research conducted at the laboratories of Dr. Rong Li, Ross
Professor of Basic Science Research in the Department of
Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine at the School of Medicine
& Health Sciences at George Washington University, and Dr.
Zhiqiang An, Professor of Molecular Medicine and the Robert A.
Welch Distinguished University Chair in Chemistry at The University
of Texas Health Science Center at Houston — highlights that
neutralizing DDR1, a multi-domain collagen receptor, disrupts the
mechanical barrier around a tumor and promotes immune cell
infiltration leading to tumoral destruction. This novel approach
leverages unique molecular insights into the function of DDR1 to
develop a “fit-for-purpose” therapeutic approach. The ability to
perforate the tumor’s protective barrier was demonstrated in
multiple preclinical models of triple negative breast cancer
(TNBC). DDR1 expression in human tumors, including TNBC, and in a
variety of other human tumors, correlates negatively with
intratumoral abundance of anti-tumor T cells. The co-senior authors
of these studies, Dr. Li and Dr. An, have also joined Parthenon’s
Scientific Advisory Board. The research supports Parthenon’s
program, PRTH-101, as a potential future therapy for a broad range
of cancers.
“Our current understanding suggests different barriers underpin
immune-cell exclusion: mechanical barriers such as stromal fibrosis
and vascular access, functional barriers provided by soluble and
metabolic factors, and dynamic barriers that impact immune cell
function,” said C. Glenn Begley, M.D., Ph.D., Parthenon’s
co-founder and Head of Drug Discovery, Parthenon Therapeutics.
“Most recent advances in immune oncology and cell therapy have been
in the dynamic barrier category. The results published today in
Nature explore the potential of attacking specific pillars of these
barriers, opening major new opportunities to treat cancer.
Targeting DDR1 is one outcome of this methodical approach.”
“We believe that our unique insights into the tumor stroma and
microenvironment reveal multiple unprecedented points of
therapeutic intervention to attack tumors and address therapeutic
needs in a range of cancers,” said Guy Travis Clifton, M.D.,
co-founder and Chief Medical Officer, Parthenon Therapeutics.
“The launch of Parthenon Therapeutics marks the debut of an
important new approach to treating cancer based in part on the
groundbreaking results published in Nature,” said Olga Granaturova,
MBA, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Parthenon
Therapeutics. “With our incredibly talented and experienced team,
pre-eminent collaborators and members of our Scientific Advisory
Board, and ongoing support of our world-class investors, we look
forward to fully exploring and rigorously testing the potential of
this new approach to treating cancer.”
About Parthenon Therapeutics
Parthenon Therapeutics is inventing a novel class of anti-cancer
therapies that reprogram the tumor microenvironment (TME). The
interplay between cancer cells and their surrounding
microenvironment is relevant in drug development as many cancers
use the TME to build barriers that shield immune system attack. One
approach, PRTH-101, breaks these barriers to overcome recalcitrant
cancers. Based on rigorous, groundbreaking research, we are
designing a portfolio of drug candidates to treat the right
patients at the right time. For more information visit
parthenontx.com and LinkedIn.
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Mariesa Kemble media@parthenontx.com