What is Metacrine?
Metacrine is a biopharmaceutical innovator focused on the development of differentiated therapies for complex metabolic and gastrointestinal diseases. By leveraging a proprietary FXR platform and a unique chemical scaffold, the company aims to improve therapeutic outcomes for patients suffering from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
The firm's market position is defined by its rigorous clinical development strategy. With candidates currently undergoing multi-phase trials—including combination studies with empagliflozin—Metacrine is positioning itself as a key player in the NASH therapeutic landscape. Its ability to attract high-caliber institutional backing highlights the perceived potential of its scientific platform to address significant unmet medical needs in the global healthcare market.
How much funding has Metacrine raised?
Metacrine has raised a total of $245.8M across 5 funding rounds:
Private Equity
$37.8M
Series A
$36M
Series B
$22M
Series C
$65M
Stock Offering
$85M
Private Equity (2015): $37.8M, investors not publicly disclosed
Series A (2015): $36M led by VenBio, Polaris Partners, Arch Venture Partners, and EcoR1 Capital
Series B (2017): $22M supported by Arch Venture Partners, New Enterprise Associates, Polaris Partners, and venBio
Series C (2018): $65M featuring Polaris Partners, Alexandria Venture Investments, Deerfield Capital Management, ArrowMark Partners, Vivo Capital, ARCH Ventures, Invus, Franklin Templeton Investments, Venrock Healthcare Partners, and Lilly Asia Ventures
Stock Issuance/Offering (2020): $85M, investors not publicly disclosed
Key Investors in Metacrine
Polaris Partners
Polaris Partners is a venture capital firm that specializes in backing transformational companies in the biotech and healthcare sectors, providing deep operational expertise and strategic guidance.
Alexandria Venture Investments
Alexandria Venture Investments is the strategic venture arm of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, focusing on life science companies that require specialized laboratory infrastructure and translational research support.
New Enterprise Associates
New Enterprise Associates is a prominent venture capital firm with a long history of helping entrepreneurs build high-growth businesses across the healthcare and technology landscapes.
What's next for Metacrine?
With the recent infusion of capital, Metacrine is well-positioned to accelerate its clinical development milestones. The strategic focus remains on the progression of MET409 and MET642 through critical trial phases, aiming to generate robust data that validates the efficacy and safety of its FXR-targeted therapies. Future growth will likely hinge on the successful completion of ongoing monotherapy and combination trials, which are essential for potential regulatory pathways and long-term commercial viability.
The company's ability to maintain a strong balance sheet through enterprise-level financing provides the necessary stability to navigate the high-risk, high-reward environment of clinical-stage drug development. As the firm continues to refine its pipeline, stakeholders will be monitoring the translation of its proprietary chemical scaffold into tangible clinical benefits for patients with NASH and related metabolic conditions.
