What is Lycera?
Lycera operates as a specialized biopharmaceutical entity focused on the development of novel treatments for oncology and autoimmune conditions. By leveraging a proprietary portfolio of small molecules, the company targets immune metabolism, cell signaling, and immune cell differentiation to modulate immune responses. With a strategic focus on both wholly owned programs and high-value collaborations, such as those established with Merck, Lycera bridges the gap between fundamental scientific discovery and commercial-grade therapeutic application. The firm's leadership team integrates deep expertise in drug discovery with a global network of clinical researchers, positioning the company as a significant player in the precision medicine landscape.
How much funding has Lycera raised?
Lycera has raised a total of $96.2M across 6 funding rounds:
Series A
$36M
Private Equity
$21M
Debt
$5M
Debt
$4M
Series B
$29.9M
Debt
$350K
Series A (2009): $36M with participation from InterWest Partners, Clarus Ventures, ARCH Venture Partners, and EDF Ventures
Private Equity (2012): $21M, investors not publicly disclosed
Debt (2013): $5M supported by InterWest Partners and ARCH Venture Partners
Debt (2014): $4M featuring Clarus Ventures, ARCH Venture Partners, and InterWest Partners
Series B (2015): $29.9M backed by Clarus Ventures, ARCH Venture Partners, and InterWest Partners
Debt (2020): $350K with participation from PPP
Key Investors in Lycera
ARCH Venture Partners
ARCH Venture Partners is a leading early-stage venture capital firm that creates and invests in life sciences and advanced technology companies, often co-founding startups with scientists and entrepreneurs to commercialize innovations from universities, corporate R&D groups, and national laboratories.
Clarus Ventures
Blackstone Life Sciences focuses on bringing vital medicines and technologies to market, aiming to improve patient outcomes through collaboration with pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical technology companies.
EDF Ventures
EDF Ventures is a leading venture capital firm investing in early-stage healthcare companies, focusing on breakthrough technologies that address large, well-recognized problems or transform existing markets.
What's next for Lycera?
With the recent strategic financing, Lycera is well-positioned to accelerate its clinical development milestones and expand its therapeutic reach. The company's forward-looking strategy centers on transitioning its lead product candidates through rigorous clinical testing phases while maintaining its collaborative research framework. By prioritizing the advancement of its immune-modulating small molecules, Lycera aims to address significant unmet medical needs in inflammatory bowel disease and other autoimmune disorders. Future growth will likely be defined by the successful execution of its clinical pipeline and the potential for further strategic partnerships to maximize the commercial viability of its proprietary assets.
See full Lycera company page
