Halda Therapeutics, a biotech company based in Connecticut, has raised $126 million in a new round of funding. This brings the total money they’ve raised so far to an impressive $202 million. The company plans to use the funds to push forward two promising new treatments for prostate and breast cancer.
Founded by Yale professor Craig Crews, Halda Therapeutics is working on a revolutionary approach to cancer treatment called Regulated Induced Proximity Targeting Chimeras (RIPTAC). These treatments are designed to target and kill cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. They work by focusing on two key proteins: one that is specific to cancer cells and another that’s essential for cell survival. The idea is to block the important protein in the cancer cells, causing them to die, while keeping normal cells intact.
The company’s lead treatment, known as HLD-0915, is aimed at tackling metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer, which is one of the toughest forms of prostate cancer. Thanks to this latest funding round, the drug will enter its first phase of human trials in early 2025. In addition to this, Halda is also developing another RIPTAC treatment for metastatic breast cancer, which is still in its early testing stages.
The funding will also allow Halda to expand its team and continue exploring new cancer-fighting technologies. Some of the major investors in this round include RA Capital Management, Deep Track Capital, and Frazier Life Sciences. Joe Cabral, a principal at Frazier Life Sciences, emphasized that Halda’s RIPTAC approach has the potential to address drug resistance, which is a common problem with current cancer treatments.
Halda’s co-founder Craig Crews is no stranger to success in the biotech world. He previously founded Arvinas, another biotech company that has partnered with major pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer.
By raising this substantial amount of funding, Halda is making significant strides towards developing a new generation of cancer treatments that could change how we fight these diseases. Their innovative approach offers hope to patients battling advanced cancers, with the potential to significantly improve the effectiveness of treatment.
