ARTICLE | Finance
With interest high in Claudin pathway, Jeito backs Alentis’ dual clinical track
$105M series C round gives CLDN1-focused biotech ample cash to start Phase II trial in fibrosis, first-in-human cancer study
April 13, 2023 1:08 PM UTC
With Alentis’ initial fibrosis program delivering early clinical evidence, existing investor Jeito stepped up to lead its $105 million series C round with the conviction that the biotech could accelerate its clinical program with a first-in-human cancer trial, set to start this year.
CEO Roberto Iacone told BioCentury that Alentis Therapeutics AG was receiving “tailwinds” from both a Phase I readout showing biological activity and tolerability of its CLDN1 inhibitor ALE.F02 to treat fibrosis, and broader interest in Claudin inhibition following a closely watched Phase III readout for CLDN18.2 inhibitor zolbetuximab from Astellas Pharma Inc. (Tokyo:4503) in gastric cancer...