Arcus Biosciences secures funding to advance clinical programs for AB928

The proceeds from this financing will be used for the advancement of Arcus’s clinical programs for AB928, a first-in-class dual adenosine receptor antagonist, and AB122, a PD-1 antibody.

Earlier this month, Arcus initiated a phase 1 trial of AB928 in healthy volunteers and Arcus plans to initiate a phase 1/2 trial of AB928 in combination with AB122 in cancer patients during the first half of 2018. Also in November, Arcus initiated a phase 1 trial of AB122 in cancer patients in Australia.

Data from the AB122 trial will be available in 2018 and Arcus plans to evaluate AB122 in combination with its other product candidates, in addition to AB928, in the future. The proceeds raised will also allow Arcus to advance at least two additional product candidates into clinical development, including AB680, a first-in-class small molecule CD73 inhibitor, and AB154, a TIGIT antibody.

The financing was led by GV (formerly Google Ventures), with participation from new investors, including Wellington Management Company LLP, EcoR1 Capital, BVF Partners L.P., Decheng Capital, Hillhouse, Aisling Capital and entities affiliated with Leerink Partners.

Arcus’s existing investors, including The Column Group, Foresite Capital, Invus Opportunities, DROIA, Celgene Corporation and Taiho Ventures, also participated in the financing.

“We are extremely pleased to add several outstanding investors with significant expertise in biotechnology to our investor group,” said Terry Rosen, Ph.D., CEO of Arcus Biosciences.

“We have been assembling a team of staff, investors, leadership and advisors with a highly aligned long-term vision to create, develop and commercialize innovative cancer immunotherapies that may offer a meaningful benefit to patients over existing treatments. These new investors share this vision, and we are thrilled to add their expertise, leadership and commitment to our team.”