Sept. 14 Quick Takes: $70M+ rounds for Escient, Escape, plus Alzheimer’s data lifts Cassava shares and more
Escient raises $77.5M B round
Escient Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced Monday the start of a Phase I/Ib trial of lead program EP547 for cholestatic and uremic pruritis alongside a $77.5 million series B round led by Sanofi Ventures and Cowen. Escient will deploy the funds to bring the MRGPRX4-targeting program through Phase II; and advance its second program, which targets MRGPRX2, into human testing.
Escape Bio closes $73M crossover round
Neurodegenerative disease company Escape Bio Inc. raised $73 million in a crossover round led by Wellington Management Company LLP. Additional new investors Avidity Partners, CAM Capital, New Leaf Ventures, Rock Springs Capital, Surveyor Capital and Sphera Funds Management participated alongside existing investors OrbiMed, Novo Holdings, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Novartis Venture Fund, Osage University Partners and Sutter Hill Ventures. ...