Anokion secures $37.6 million series A

Anokion S.A. (Lausanne, Switzerland) secured CHF33 million ($37.6 million) in a tranched series A round co-led by Novartis Venture Fund; Novo Ventures; and Versant Ventures. Undisclosed additional private investors also participated. Anokion is using its antigen-specific immune tolerance technology to develop compounds with reduced immunogenicity for autoimmune and allergic indications. The technology engineers proteins to be recognized by the immune system as "self" entities. Anokion said the technology could reduce the immunogenicity of existing therapies and enable the development of proteins "thought to be too immunogenic for repeated use." The company is aiming to enter the clinic for an undisclosed indication by 2017. ...