What is Metacrine?
Metacrine is dedicated to building a pipeline of differentiated therapies for liver and gastrointestinal conditions. The company leverages a proprietary FXR platform, characterized by a unique chemical scaffold, which has shown an improved therapeutic profile in clinical trials. Metacrine's lead product candidates, MET409 and MET642, are currently under investigation for Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). MET409 has completed a 12-week monotherapy trial and is being evaluated in a combination trial with empagliflozin for patients with NASH and type 2 diabetes. MET642 has concluded a 14-day Phase 1 trial in healthy volunteers and is now undergoing a 16-week monotherapy trial in NASH patients. The company's strategic financing rounds, including Series A, B, and C, highlight its progression through critical development milestones.
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 EcoR1 Capital, Arch Venture Partners, VenBio, and Polaris Partners
Series B (2017): $22M supported by venBio, Arch Venture Partners, New Enterprise Associates, and Polaris Partners
Series C (2018): $65M featuring ARCH Ventures, Invus, Deerfield Capital Management, Venrock Healthcare Partners, Franklin Templeton Investments, Polaris Partners, Alexandria Venture Investments, Vivo Capital, Lilly Asia Ventures, and ArrowMark Partners
Stock Issuance/Offering (2020): $85M, investors not publicly disclosed
Key Investors in Metacrine
EcoR1 Capital
EcoR1 Capital is a San Francisco-based investment fund focused on the biotech sector, aiming to build long-term partnerships with innovative entrepreneurs dedicated to advancing therapeutic innovation and developing new medicines.
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.
Polaris Partners
Polaris Partners is a venture capital firm that specializes in backing transformational companies in the biotech and healthcare sectors, providing coaching, advice, and resources for growth to entrepreneurs.
What's next for Metacrine?
With the recent major strategic investment, Metacrine is poised to advance its clinical development programs for MET409 and MET642. This capital injection will likely support the progression of ongoing trials, potentially enabling the company to reach key regulatory milestones and further validate its FXR platform. The company's focus on NASH, a significant unmet medical need, positions it for potential growth and partnerships within the biopharmaceutical sector. Future funding rounds or strategic alliances may be anticipated as Metacrine continues to demonstrate clinical efficacy and expand its pipeline.
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