Bambusa raises $90m for bispecific antibody trials

Bambusa Therapeutics, an innovative US-based biotech startup, has successfully raised $90 million in Series A funding to push forward its development of bispecific antibody treatments targeting immunological and inflammatory diseases. The financing round was spearheaded by RA Capital Management, with additional investment from firms such as Janus Henderson Investors, Redmile Group, Invus, and ADAR1 Capital Management, alongside previous investors. This funding milestone marks a significant step for the company, which initially garnered $15 million in seed funding in September 2024, co-led by BVF Partners and KKR’s Dawn Biopharma, with support from Salvia GmbH and INCE Capital.

Founded in May 2024, Bambusa Therapeutics is led by CEO Shanshan Xu, who brings with her a wealth of experience from her previous role as vice president for external innovations at BioNTech. The company is making strides in its research and development efforts with a robust pipeline featuring four bispecific antibody candidates. Among them, BBT001 and BBT002 are set to advance to clinical trials in the coming years.

BBT001 is particularly focused on dermatologic conditions and is anticipated to commence a Phase I trial by March 2025. This trial, identified as NCT06808477, aims to recruit 98 participants, including healthy volunteers and patients suffering from atopic dermatitis, to determine the safety and efficacy of the treatment. Meanwhile, BBT002, which has completed its preclinical evaluation, is being prepared for human trials by mid-2025. This candidate is designed to address a spectrum of conditions spanning respiratory, dermatological, and gastrointestinal fields. Bambusa describes BBT002 as possessing the unique potential to function as a “platform in a molecule,” highlighting its versatility in treating various inflammatory diseases.

In addition to these two candidates, Bambusa is developing BBT003 and BBT004, which are in earlier stages of research. BBT003 is targeted toward inflammatory bowel disease, while BBT004 is focused on rheumatology. Although specific development timelines for these candidates have not been disclosed, Bambusa emphasizes their promise in offering “best-in-disease” treatment options.

Derek DiRocco, a partner at RA Capital, commented on the promising prospects of Bambusa's therapeutic pipeline, emphasizing the potential of these next-generation therapies to offer enhanced efficacy and convenience compared to current treatments. Bambusa’s bispecific antibodies are designed to target distinct disease-driving signaling pathways, potentially offering superior disease management for patients.

The bispecific antibody sector is increasingly competitive, with numerous pharmaceutical companies seeking to enhance their portfolios in immunology and inflammation. This trend is evident in recent industry movements, such as MSD's acquisition of a CD3 and CD19-targeting T cell engager bispecific antibody from Curon Biopharmaceutical in a deal valued at $1.3 billion, and Johnson & Johnson's $1.25 billion acquisition of global rights to Numab Therapeutics' IL-4R and IL-31-targeting bispecific antibody.

With the successful closure of this funding round, Bambusa Therapeutics is well-positioned to make significant contributions to the field of bispecific antibody therapies, potentially offering transformative solutions for patients with complex immunological and inflammatory conditions.