As the smartest species our world has ever seen, human beings are pretty much obligated to fulfill all the potential they have in the tank. Now, while acknowledging this fact in the vacuum is easy, making sure of it under the real-world setting is a whole different gig. Hence, we’ll end failing on many occasions, but all those failures will start to look like nonfactors once we discover technology. Technology was such a game-changer because it introduced a dynamic that was never even imagined before its arrival. With a never-seen-before force running the whole show, we were suddenly able to pursue goals that were bigger than us, and mind you, we were able to do so in every possible area, including a highly-critical medical sector. Technology linking up with healthcare was probably the most pivotal moment in the creation’s journey, as it really convinced everyone about its credentials. Even after introducing a brand new healthcare concept, however, this medtech discipline will continue to grow beyond all expectations, therefore preparing us to answer some big questions over time, In fact, looking at one recent funding, we can expect to answer a few more in near future.
Celsius Therapeutics, a single-cell analysis biotech, has officially secured over $83 million in Series B funding. Led by Casdin Capital, the round saw further participation coming from the likes of Alexandria Venture Investments, GV, Heritage Provider Network, Third Rock Ventures, Amgen Ventures, Amplitude Ventures, Catalio Capital, Co-Win Ventures, and more. According to certain reports, Celsius plans on dedicating the new cash injection towards the development of its lead autoimmune disease drug candidate and two-cancer related therapeutic programs. Talking about company’s lead autoimmune target, it’s purposed around a condition called IBD (inflammatory bowel disease). So far, the only way to treat IBD would put anti-TNF therapies at the centre of everything. Nevertheless, anti-TNF therapies haven’t really proven to be effective in all cases, so we needed a different approach, and Celsius brings just the right thing. Instead of blocking TNF, the company’s methodology talks to toning down TREM1, which is another protein that worsens IBD in patients. It blocks the protein using CEL383, an antibody Celsius found using its reputed single-cell analysis.
Considering single-cell analysis can give you deeper biological insights than a holistic analysis will ever give, the method was a big help for the company in terms of identifying cell type that stirs up resistance to anti-TNF therapies, and consequentially, building a better way around it.
“2022 is a really exciting year for Celsius,” said Tariq Kassum, President and CEO at Celsius Therapeutics. “It’s the year in which all the science and work that we’ve done over the last few years really translates into actionable therapies for patients with inflammatory bowel disease and cancer.”
While Celsius’ targets for its two oncology-related drug discovery programs remain undisclosed, the company’s first program in this discipline is expected to be based upon colorectal cancer.
