Medicxi backs University of Toronto spinout Janpix

The University of Toronto Mississauga and investment firm Medicxi launched cancer play Janpix Inc. (Cambridge, Mass.) with a $19 million series A round. CEO Roman Fleck told BioCentury the company has raised a total of $20 million, including a seed round led by Medicxi about two years ago.

Janpix is developing highly selective small molecule signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), STAT5 and pan-STAT3/5 inhibitors to treat hematological and solid tumors. Co-founder and CSO Patrick Gunning discovered the compounds in his research at the university...