
Ottimo Pharma
Pioneering bi-functional antibody therapies for solid tumors.
Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
---|---|---|---|
investor | €0.0 | round | |
* | $140m | Series A | |
Total Funding | 000k |
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Ottimo Pharma is a private biotechnology company co-founded in 2020 by the life sciences investment firm Medicxi and antibody engineer Jonny Finlay. The company, with operations in London and Boston, focuses on developing innovative cancer therapies for solid tumors. Ottimo emerged from stealth mode in October 2024 with the appointment of a seasoned leadership team, including David Epstein as Chair and CEO, who previously served as CEO of Seagen.
The company's core business revolves around the development of bi-functional medicines designed to attack cancer through multiple pathways simultaneously. Its lead program is Jankistomig, a first-in-class PD1-VEGFR2 bi-functional antibody. This single-agent IgG therapy is engineered to concurrently target immune checkpoint inhibition (via the PD1 pathway) and angiogenesis, which is the formation of new blood vessels that feed tumors (via the VEGFR2 pathway). This dual-pathway approach aims to provide a wider therapeutic window and improved treatment outcomes compared to existing therapies. The company is conducting IND-enabling studies for Jankistomig and anticipates filing an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the FDA in late 2025 to begin clinical trials.
Ottimo Pharma operates on a venture-backed business model. In December 2024, the company announced the completion of a Series A financing round of over $140 million. The funding syndicate includes a global group of life science investors such as Medicxi, OrbiMed, Avoro Capital, Samsara BioCapital, and RTW Investments, among others. This capital is intended to accelerate the development of Jankistomig for multiple solid tumor indications and to advance a pipeline of other bi-functional assets. The company's long-term strategy, as indicated by its CEO, may involve being acquired by a larger pharmaceutical company if clinical trials prove successful.
Keywords: bi-functional antibodies, cancer therapy, solid tumors, oncology, PD1 inhibitors, VEGFR2 inhibitors, immunotherapy, angiogenesis, drug development, biotechnology, Jankistomig, clinical trials, biopharmaceutical, cancer research, IgG therapy, single-agent therapy, oncology therapeutics, life sciences, venture capital, preclinical development