Feb. 12 Quick Takes: NexImmune, Decibel rise in NASDAQ debuts; plus Sagimet’s $80M crossover, Forbion launches VectorY, Aurora Science leads InteRNA round and a SPAC for Sharecare
Shares of NexImmune Inc. (NASDAQ:NEXI) and Decibel Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:DBTX) traded higher Friday after the companies priced IPOs on NASDAQ Thursday night. Hearing and balance therapy company Decibel raised $127.1 million through the sale of 7.1 million shares at $18, while immunotherapy play NexImmune raised $110 million through the sale of 6.5 million shares at $17. NexImmune shares rose 49% to $25.33 Friday. Decibel was up 36% mid-day before settling at $18.03.
Crossovers back NASH play Sagimet’s latest round
NASH company Sagimet Biosciences Inc. raised $80 million in a crossover round and named Kleiner Perkins’ Beth Seidenberg chair. The round was led by an undisclosed public equity healthcare investment fund with participation from existing investors including Ascletis Pharma Inc. (HKEX:1672), Kleiner Perkins, New Enterprise Associates and Rock Springs Capital along with new backers Altium Capital, HM Capital, Invus and PFM Health Sciences. In 2019, the Bay Area-based company raised $25 million in a series E round led by Ascletis and changed its name from 3-V Biosciences...