What is Metacrine?
Metacrine is dedicated to building a pipeline of differentiated therapies for liver and gastrointestinal conditions, leveraging a proprietary farnesoid X receptor (FXR) platform. This platform utilizes a unique chemical scaffold that has shown an improved therapeutic profile in clinical trials. The company'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 Phase 1 trial and is currently in a 16-week monotherapy trial for NASH patients. The company's strategic focus on NASH, a significant unmet medical need, highlights its commitment to addressing complex diseases.
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, EcoR1 Capital, Polaris Partners, and Arch Venture Partners
Series B (2017): $22M supported by Polaris Partners, venBio, Arch Venture Partners, and New Enterprise Associates
Series C (2018): $65M featuring Alexandria Venture Investments, Invus, Lilly Asia Ventures, ArrowMark Partners, Deerfield Capital Management, Vivo Capital, Franklin Templeton Investments, Venrock Healthcare Partners, Polaris Partners, and ARCH Ventures
Stock Issuance/Offering (2020): $85M, investors not publicly disclosed
Key Investors in Metacrine
VenBio
VenBio is a life sciences investment firm that partners with industry leaders to develop innovative medicines and technologies, focusing on novel therapeutics for unmet medical needs. Founded in 2011, the firm manages nearly $1.1 billion in committed capital and emphasizes the importance of positioning its portfolio companies for potential acquisition.
Polaris Partners
Polaris Partners is a venture capital firm that specializes in backing transformational companies in the biotech and healthcare sectors. With over two decades of experience, they partner with entrepreneurs to create successful business solutions, providing coaching, advice, and resources for growth.
Arch Venture Partners
ARCH Venture Partners is a leading earlystage venture capital firm that creates and invests in life sciences and advanced technology companies, often cofounding startups with scientists and entrepreneurs to commercialize innovations from universities, corporate R&D groups, and national laboratories.
What's next for Metacrine?
With substantial enterprise-level funding and a recent strategic investment, Metacrine is poised for accelerated growth and development. The company's ongoing clinical trials for MET409 and MET642 are critical milestones that will likely shape its future trajectory. Continued investment and strategic partnerships will be key to advancing these candidates through regulatory approval and towards market entry. The company's progress suggests a strong potential for future value creation within the biopharmaceutical sector, particularly in the competitive NASH therapeutic landscape.
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