Enara Bio, a biotech firm from Oxford, has secured $32.5m in funding from Pfizer and the Francis Crick Institute.
- Enara Bio has made significant strides with its cancer therapies and antigen discovery platform since its inception in 2016.
- The latest funding round, led by Pfizer Ventures, highlights the ongoing quest to improve cancer treatment outcomes in the UK.
- Despite advancements, current cancer immunotherapies benefit only a minority; Enara Bio aims to change this with its ‘Dark Antigens’.
- Notable partners and investors reflect confidence in Enara Bio’s pioneering approach to cancer treatment.
Founded as a beacon of innovation in 2016, Enara Bio has positioned itself at the forefront of cancer treatment development by claiming notable breakthroughs with its cancer therapies. The Oxford-based biotechnology company recently announced a substantial $32.5 million (£24.7m) Series B funding round. This financial backing comes from prominent names in the pharmaceutical and research sectors, notably Pfizer and the Francis Crick Institute.
The enormity of the cancer challenge in the UK is underscored by the existence of over three million patients and an annual death toll of approximately 167,000, as reported by Macmillan Cancer Support. Within this context, Enara Bio’s latest funding round, spearheaded by Pfizer Ventures and M Ventures, signifies a pivotal stride towards more effective treatment solutions. Rana Al-Hallaq from Pfizer Ventures acknowledged, ‘Dark Antigens may unlock the potential of immunotherapy for many additional patients with solid tumours, and we are pleased to support Enara’s development.’
Enara Bio’s cutting-edge EDAPT platform utilises ‘genomic dark matter’ to discover novel cancer antigens, targeting a broader cancer patient demographic. Their groundbreaking work has attracted significant interest, cemented by a partnership with German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, which extended its collaboration with Enara Bio this year.
The CEO of Enara Bio, Kevin Pojasek, commented on the funding, asserting that it reflects the intrinsic value and transformative potential of their scientific research. Pojasek, who has a distinguished career trajectory, including roles at Immunocore and SV Health Investors, highlighted the rapidly growing turnover of the company, which tripled to £17.4 million in 2023. Such financial metrics underscore the robustness and potential scalability of Enara Bio’s operations.
Enara Bio’s innovative approaches and significant backing position it as a key player in transforming cancer treatment possibilities.
