A considerable number of new biopharma companies were funded in 2021. The number of companies was in range with 2020’s numbers. These companies were mostly in their Series A stage and some in the seed stage.
Boston’s Odyssey Therapeutics with $218M, Centessa Pharmaceuticals from Cambridge, Mass. with (250M), Gentibio ($157M), Arrivent Biopharma ($150M), Eikon Therapeutics ($148), Capsida Biotherapeutics ($140) are some of the top-grossing companies in the US.
A considerable number of companies were also funded in China, the UK, and Europe including Apollo Therapeutics ($145M), New Amsterdam Pharma ($196), Cellular Biomedicine Group ($120M) and Ignis Therapeutics ($180M).
Oncology was the most prevalent therapy area, with Neuroscience on its heels and a number of new companies focused on multiple therapy areas.
A large percentage of the newly funded biopharma companies were in the USA. Seattle’s Eliem Therapeutics, a Neuroscience company is a prime example with $80M of seed capital. Other companies with considerable seed capital include Avilar Therapeutics ($60M), Volastra Therapeutics ($44M), Alto Neuroscience ($40M) and Emerson ($40M).
In the UK, 2021 top seed funded companies included Mestag Therapeutics ($11M) focused on Small Molecules in the Immunology therapy area and Transine Therapeutics ($12.9M) a Neuroscience Gene Therapy company.
Europe had France’s Argobio ($60.4M), VectorY Therapeutics (37.6M), Anavo Therapeutics ($24.1M) from the Netherlands and Haya Therapeutics ($20M) an Oligos based immunology company in Switzerland.
Asia had low numbers in seed investments. There was Delonix Bioworks ($14M) a gene-editing company and Anticancer Bioscience ($10.60) in China.
The US once again dominated in the Series A stage with companies like Odyssey Therapeutics ($218), Atalanta Therapeutics ($110M), these companies received considerable reduced amounts compared to top 2020 Series A VC investments with the likes of Sana Biotechnology ($700M) & LianBio ($310M).
Other Series A companies are – Delfi Diagnostics($100M), Centessa Pharmaceuticals ($250M), Capsida Biotherapeutics ($140M), Eikon Therapeutics ($148M), Chroma Medicine ($125), Getibio ($157M). Arrivent Biopharma ($150M).
Series A companies in the UK included Alchemab Therapeutics ($82.4M), Apollo Therapeutics ($145M), Aviadobio ($80.00M) and Adendra Therapeutics ($53M).
Top funded European countries include Germany’s oncology-focused Emergence Therapeutics ($97.90M), Denmark’s Adcendo also oncology-focused ($61.8M) and the Netherlands Cardiovascular-focused company NewAmsterdam Pharma ($196M).
Asia was better funded in the series A stage with companies like China’s Ignis Therapeutics focused on Neuroscience with a Series A investment of $180M from 6 Dimenions, Ruentex Group; KB investment; WIT Investment& Others although this is lower than the top Series A funding in 2020 from Mabwell Biotech ($278M). . Radiopharmaceutical company Ablaze Pharmaceuticals ($75M), Biomap ($100M) and Cellular Biomedicine Group ($120M). The top-funded Japanese company was Aculys Pharma ($60M).
|
Month |
Company |
Amount (M) |
Investors |
Modality |
Sub-modality |
Therapy Area |
Country |
|
February |
Centessa Pharmaceuticals |
$250 |
General Atlantic; Vida Ventures; Janus Henderson and others |
Multiple |
Multiple |
Multiple |
United States |
|
March |
Innoforce Pharmaceuticals |
$96 |
Yanchuang Capital; South China Venture Capital and others |
Biologics |
Multiple |
Multiple |
China |
|
April |
Alchemab Therapeutics |
$82.4 |
RA Capital Management; Lightstone Ventures; Data Collective VC and others |
Biologics |
Protein/Antibodies |
Multiple |
United Kingdom |
|
April |
Capsida Biotherapeutics |
$140 |
Versant Venture; Westlake Village BioPartners |
Biologics |
Gene Therapy |
Neuroscience |
United States |
|
May |
Eikon Therapeutics |
$148 |
The Column Group; Foresite Capital and Others |
Biologics |
Protein |
Multiple |
United States |
|
May |
Dyno Therapeutics |
$100 |
Andreessen Horowitz (Bio Fund); Casdin Capital ; CRV; GV and others |
Biologics |
Gene Therapy |
Neuroscience |
United States |
|
May |
Flare Therapeutics |
$82 |
Boxer Capital LLC; Third Rock Ventures LLC and others |
Small Molecule |
Synthetic |
Oncology |
United States |
|
June |
Abata Therapeutics |
$95 |
Invus Group LLC; Third Rock Ventures LLC; JDRF T1D Fund and others |
Biologics |
Cell Therapy |
Immunology |
United States |
|
June |
Arrivent Biopharma |
$150 |
Boyu Capital Consultancy Co. Ltd; Orbimed Advisors LLC; Lilly Asia ventures and others |
Biologics |
Protein/Antibodies |
Oncology |
United States |
|
July |
Biomap |
$100 |
Baidu; Bluerun Ventures; Xiang He Capital |
Biologics |
Antibody |
Multiple |
China |
|
August |
Gentibio |
$157 |
Matrix Capital Management; Avidity Partners; JDRF T1D Fund and others |
Biologics |
Cell Therapy |
Immunology |
United States |
|
October |
Rectify Pharmaceuticals |
$100 |
Atlas Venture; Omega Funds; Forbion & Longwood Fund |
Small Molecule |
Synthetic |
Multiple |
United States |
The biopharma industry continues to boom and so far defy predictions of a market crash. Investors continue to invest capital in different ecosystems in the US, UK and China even in relatively new companies.
Contract Research (CROs) Amazon, Fred Hutch Collaborating on Cancer Vaccine Clinical Trial (USA) RegeneRx Partner Signs LOI with Global Ophthalmology CRO for Two Phase 3 Clinical Trials in Neurotrophic Keratitis (USA) Contract Development and Manufacturing
Contract Research (CROs) Eurofins Discovery Acquires DiscoveryBioMed (UK) CRO Inotiv continues M&A strategy with $11M Protypia buy (USA) Contract Development and Manufacturing (CDMO) SIGA Technologies Enters Collaboration with KaliVir Immunotherapeutics (USA) Cytiva Invests in Resins