Effector raises $38.6M in series C

Cancer company Effector Therapeutics Inc. (San Diego, Calif.) raised $38.6 million in a series C round led by new investor Pfizer Venture Investments. Also participating were new investor Alexandria Venture Investments and existing investors U.S. Venture Partners, Abingworth, Novartis Venture Fund, SR One, The Column Group, Altitude Life Science Ventures, Sectoral Asset Management, AbbVie Biotech Ventures, BioMed Ventures and Astellas Ventures.

President and CEO Steve Worland told BioCentury that the company expects interim data in 1H18 and full data in 2H18 from a Phase I/II study of lead candidate eFT508 to treat lymphoma. The molecule is also in a Phase I/II trial to treat solid tumors. eFT508 is a small molecule inhibitor of MAP kinase interacting serine-threonine kinase 1 (MKNK1; MNK1) and MKNK2 (MNK2)...