Vedanta's horizons

Vedanta Biosciences Inc. has followed up its March double-hit of publishing preclinical proof of concept for its homegrown, microbiome-based therapies and in-licensing a new technology to expand the portfolio, with its closing last week of a $50 million series B round. The company believes it now has the rationale, tools and funding it needs to create microbial cocktails that can either turn up or down inflammation to suit the indication, and to take its three lead programs into the clinic.

Vedanta's latest financing, announced June 6, was backed by PureTech Health plc, Invesco Asset Management, Seventure and Rock Springs Capital, and comes 17 months after its largest disclosed licensing deal, signed with Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Biotech Inc. for the biotech's sole disclosed program, VE-202, an orally-dosed cocktail of Clostridia strains in development for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)...