NEA leads $100M Allakos series B

Allakos Inc. (San Carlos, Calif.) raised $100 million in a series B round led by New Enterprise Associates. Redmile Group, Partner Fund Management, Rock Springs Capital, LifeSci Venture Partners, Samsara BioCapital and an undisclosed institutional investor, along with existing investors Alta Partners, RiverVest Venture Partners, Roche Venture Fund and 3X5 Partners participated.

Allakos’ lead compound, AK002, has completed two Phase I trials to treat indolent systemic mastocytosis. The antibody targets sialic acid binding Ig-like lectin 8 (SIGLEC8), an inhibitory receptor selectively expressed on mast cells and eosinophils. The compound is also in the clinic for eosinophilic gastritis, urticaria and severe allergic conjunctivitis...