March 23 Quick Takes: Moulder’s Zenas launches; plus PhoreMost, 1910 Genetics, XyloCor and Catalent

Lonnie Moulder’s cross-border biotech Zenas BioPharma launched Tuesday to develop immune-based therapies. Moulder, the co-founder and CEO of Tesaro Inc., is executive chairman and interim CEO of the company, which has seven programs for automimmune and rare diseases, including a lead mAb for thyroid eye disease. Moulder’s family office, Tellus BioVentures LLC, and Fairmount Funds Management LLC founded and provided initial funding for the company, which is also backed by Quan Capital, WuXi Biologics Healthcare Ventures and Wellington Management. It is Tellus’ sixth portfolio company.

PhoreMost raises £33M, names Beech chair
PhoreMost Ltd. raised £33 million ($46 million) in a series B round led by BGF to advance its allosteric PLK1 inhibitor into the clinic within 18 months. The company is developing the therapy, which is being assessed for glioma, with Sentinel Oncology Ltd. New investors XtalPi Inc., Astellas Venture Management, Trend Investment Group and o2h ventures participated in the B round along with existing investors Parkwalk Advisors, Morningside Ventures and Jonathan Milner. PhoreMost said Catherine Beech, a director, will succeed Jonathan Milner as chair; Milner will stay on the board...