CellCentric secures $120M for multiple myeloma research

CellCentric, a biotechnology company, has successfully secured a $120 million series C funding round to further the development of its promising drug candidate, inobrodib. This financing round, which was co-led by RA Capital Management and new investor Forbion, also saw participation from Avego Bioscience Capital and BrightEdge, an impact investment arm of the American Cancer Society. This fresh influx of capital comes shortly after CellCentric presented promising data from its Phase I/II clinical trial during the American Society of Hematology's annual meeting.

Inobrodib is an oral p300/CBP inhibitor with the potential to be a first-in-class treatment for multiple myeloma (MM). The recent trial data highlighted inobrodib's encouraging efficacy, showing a 75% overall response rate and a median duration of response of 9.7 months among nine patients with relapsed or refractory MM. This study involved a combination treatment with pomalidomide and dexamethasone, underscoring the drug's potential in tackling this challenging form of cancer.

Forbion's general partner, Jasper Bos, expressed optimism about inobrodib's future, noting the drug's promising efficacy and manageable safety profile demonstrated in early clinical trials. Bos stated that Forbion is enthusiastic about supporting CellCentric as it pushes forward with registration studies, with the aim of transforming the treatment landscape for multiple myeloma across various stages of the disease.

Currently, CellCentric is conducting a Phase IIa dose optimization study for inobrodib and intends to use the new funds to launch additional trials. These will include a Phase II/III study targeting heavily pretreated MM patients, which is designed to support accelerated approval of the drug. Moreover, the company plans to initiate multiple trials this quarter to evaluate inobrodib as a maintenance treatment and in combination with bispecific antibodies. The FDA has granted fast track designation to inobrodib, and a Phase III program is expected to commence in mid-2026.

Before this latest funding round, CellCentric had already raised at least $119 million. This included a $35 million investment from RA Capital last year and a $25 million investment from Pfizer in 2023. In addition, Morningside Venture Investments contributed $26 million in 2018 and committed another $33 million in 2020, highlighting a strong and continued interest from the investment community in CellCentric's groundbreaking work.

The significant investment and promising clinical results place CellCentric in a strong position to advance inobrodib through the necessary trials and toward potential approval. The company’s strategic focus on developing innovative therapies for multiple myeloma represents a significant step forward in addressing a disease that poses a considerable challenge for patients and healthcare providers alike. As the trials progress, the biotech community will be watching closely to see if inobrodib can deliver on its promise and emerge as a game-changer in the treatment of multiple myeloma.