Inthera Bioscience is a biopharmaceitical company developing first-in-class targeted small molecule therapies for solid tumors. The company’s drug discovery programs are focused on the development of novel first-in-class oral agents blocking aberrant cell signaling in solid tumors, which are currently in pre-clinical development.
Today, the startup has closed the second tranche of series A round with €4.7 million, which brings the total amount to €9.6 million. Participants in the round include M Ventures, Aglaia BioMedical Ventures and Novo Seeds.
“Securing the milestone driven second tranche of our Series A financing represents the validation that our platform can deliver drug leads targeting specific intracellular protein-protein interactions. These lead candidates have shown broad anticancer effects in preclinical studies with complete tumor eradication in animal models of solid tumors. It also shows the confidence of our investors in the highly innovative approach we are taking to address unmet needs in the field of oncology” says CEO Uli Kessler. “We are in a strong position to select a first orally available small molecule drug candidate soon and move it efficiently towards the clinic”.
In addition to the capital increase, Inthera Biosciensa has appointed three senior Pharma and Biotech Industry members to its management team; Bernd Hentsch joins the company as Chief Development Officer, Ralph Lindemann as Chief Scientific Officer and Monique Schiersing as Chief Operating Officer.
“I am very pleased to see such an experienced group of executives joining Inthera Bioscience. I am convinced that this high calibre team under the leadership of founder and CEO Uli Kessler combined with our unique technology platform and projects make Inthera one of the most exciting and promising Biotech companies in the oncology space in Europe”, said Klaus Schollmeier, Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Bernd Hentsch has held various senior positions in the European Biotech industry. Prior to joining Inthera, he was Chief Development Officer at 4SC AG, a German clinical stage oncology company and TopoTarget A/S, a Danish clinical stage oncology company. Prior to TopoTarget A/S, Bernd has held other R&D related positions, e.g. in Germany at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, the German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, and at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne, Australia.
Ralph Lindemann was previously at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Translational Innovation Platform Oncology. He has 15 years of experience in translational research and drug discovery and an academic track record in chromatin-based therapeutics.
Monique Schiersing served previously as Investment Director at the Roche Venture Fund, F. Hoffmann–La Roche AG’s corporate venture fund. In this role Monique served as Director on the board of various Biotech companies in the US as well as in Europe, amongst others Macrolide Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Minoryx Therapeutics S.L., or mySugr GmbH. Prior to this role, Monique held positions as Principal at BankInvest in Copenhagen and Global Alliance Director at Roche Pharma Partnering in Basel.
(Press release)