A new biotechnology company focused on revolutionizing cancer treatment through advanced antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology has emerged with substantial financial backing. Callio Therapeutics announced its launch today with a $187.0 million Series A financing round, positioning itself to advance novel multi-payload ADC programs through clinical development.
The financing round was led by Frazier Life Sciences, with significant participation from Jeito Capital and other prominent investors including Novo Holdings A/S, Omega Funds, and ClavystBio. Additional participants included Platanus, Norwest, Pureos Bioventures, SEEDS Capital, and EDBI.
Strategic Technology Acquisition and Development Focus
Callio Therapeutics has secured an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Singapore-based Hummingbird Bioscience for its multi-payload ADC platform in oncology. The agreement includes associated intellectual property and pipeline assets, structured as an equity deal with potential milestone payments and royalties.
The company's lead program focuses on a HER2-targeted dual-payload ADC, representing a new generation of cancer therapeutics designed to overcome the limitations of traditional single-payload approaches. This innovative platform aims to enable targeted delivery of rational drug combinations to cancer cells, potentially offering enhanced efficacy compared to existing treatments.
"Multi-payload ADCs have the potential to enable the targeted delivery of rational drug combinations to cancer cells, and may provide significantly enhanced efficacy," said Piers Ingram, PhD, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Callio Therapeutics. "This new generation of ADC therapies may meaningfully improve outcomes for patients."
Experienced Leadership Team
The company has assembled a strong management team with extensive experience in ADC development and oncology therapeutics. Key leadership positions include:
- Piers Ingram, PhD, as Chief Executive Officer
- Jerome Boyd-Kirkup, PhD, as Chief Scientific Officer
- Naomi Hunder, MD, as Chief Medical Officer
- Angèle Maki, PhD, as Chief Business Officer
These executives bring collective experience from leading organizations including ProfoundBio, Silverback Therapeutics, SeaGen, Medarex, Hummingbird Bioscience, and Genentech.
Strategic Vision and Market Potential
Adam Simpson, Executive Board Chair of Callio Therapeutics and Venture Partner at Frazier Life Sciences, emphasized the company's potential impact: "The multi-payload ADCs being developed at Callio Therapeutics have the potential to address large unmet medical needs by overcoming many of the limitations of existing ADCs."
With dual headquarters in Seattle and Singapore, Callio Therapeutics is strategically positioned to leverage expertise and resources across major biotech hubs. The Series A funding will primarily support advancing the company's HER2-targeted dual-payload ADC and a second undisclosed ADC program through clinical proof-of-concept studies.
