Catalyst raises $40 million for Alterase therapies
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
Catalyst Biosciences has raised $40.4 million to fund its Alterase engineered protease therapeutics, including its lead candidate, CB 813, for acute bleeding in haemophiliacs. The US company said that the series C round would fund its operations for several years and advance CB 813 through Phase I/II proof-of-concept studies. CB 813 is an improved factor VIIa that the firm believes will require less dosing to control acute bleeding episodes than other formulations. Catalyst expects to file an IND for clinical testing in early 2009. The investment was led by Essex Woodlands Health Venture, which will appoint Jeff Himawan as its representative on Catalyst's board of directors. Burrill & Company, HealthCare Ventures, Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation, Morgenthaler Ventures, Novartis BioVentures and Sofinnova Ventures also participated in the round.