Avammune Therapeutics raises $12 million to advance cancer therapies
Avammune Therapeutics founders Arun Papaiah, Srinivasan Namala, and Aditya Kulkarni
BENGALURU: Biopharmaceutical startup
Avammune Therapeutics
has raised $12 million (Rs 100 crore) in a
Series A funding
round co-led by Capital 2B, Shastra VC, and Kotak Lifesciences Fund I, with additional participation from IvyCap Ventures and returning investor 1Crowd.
Founded in 2020, Avammune is developing
small molecule immunotherapies
that activate the body's innate immune system to treat cancer and autoimmune disorders. The latest infusion will fund clinical development of its lead asset AVA-NP-695 – an ENPP1 inhibitor – alongside preclinical work on pipeline candidates, as per a company statement.
The company operates out of Philadelphia and Bengaluru and was started by serial biotech entrepreneurs Arun Papaiah, Srinivasan Namala, and Aditya Kulkarni.
AVA-NP-695 has demonstrated strong antitumor responses in preclinical models for cancers including osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, and triple negative breast cancer. It has also been tested in veterinary patients through compassionate-use programs, according to the company.
'Current immuno-oncology drugs mostly target the adaptive immune system and are largely biologics that require injections,' said CEO Papaiah.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around in 2025
Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List
Undo
'We're taking a small molecule approach to activating the innate immune system, which could be easier to administer and potentially more accessible, especially in emerging markets.'
Unlike traditional therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation, immuno-oncology (IO) treatments aim to harness the immune system to selectively attack cancer cells. While approved IO drugs like checkpoint inhibitors have shown results, only 30-40% of patients respond to them.
Targeting innate immunity represents a newer frontier in IO drug development, the company said.
The global IO market, currently estimated at $100 billion, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 17%, driven by increasing cancer incidence and demand for novel therapies. Most existing IO therapies are high-cost biologics with limited accessibility in countries like India.
'The best-in-class profile of AVA-NP-695 and its early data in hard-to-treat cancers make it a compelling candidate,' said Shastra VC partner Avijeet Alagathi, noting the lack of progress in osteosarcoma treatment over the past four decades.
Avammune's broader pipeline includes AVA-ADR, an ADAR1 p150 inhibitor that has shown in vivo efficacy – an uncommon feat in its category. The company has also developed a proprietary chemical library to target DNA/RNA-binding proteins, which it says allows it to create highly targeted therapies at lower doses.
With a team of over 40 across its global operations, Avammune partners with institutions including UCSF, Oxford University, and University of Queensland for early-stage research collaborations.
The company plans to initiate human trials for AVA-NP-695 in the near future.
Stay informed with the latest
business
news, updates on
bank holidays
and
public holidays
.
AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
28 minutes ago
- The Print
Power supply cables on Metro network stolen in Gandhinagar, second such incident in 2 weeks
According to officials of the Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (GMRC), services on the route were not affected because the Metro was not operational at the time of the theft and the issue was resolved before trains commenced at 7 am. The power cable theft, the second such incident in two weeks, took place in the early hours of Monday. Ahmedabad, Jun 3 (PTI) Unidentified persons stole power cables worth Rs 17.85 lakh from tracks between two Metro train stations near Gandhinagar city, a police official said on Tuesday. An FIR was registered with the Infocity police station of Gandhinagar on Monday after GMRC section engineer Mayur Joshi submitted a complaint about the theft of copper cables, which are laid alongside the tracks to power Metro trains. 'We have registered an FIR and started our investigation. No one has been arrested yet,' said sub-inspector of the Infocity police station, Dhaval Singh. The theft took place between Koba Circle and Juna Koba stations, which fall on Motera to Gandhinagar route, said the FIR. When a Metro train came to a sudden halt at around 3 am between these two stations, Joshi was called to the spot to look into the issue as the train was not getting electric supply. During inspection, Joshi learnt someone had stolen 700 metres of power cables worth Rs 17.85 lakh after cutting and detaching them from the brackets, it said. This was the second incident wherein power cables of the Metro network were stolen. On May 22, Metro services experienced disruption on a route in Ahmedabad city after unidentified persons stole 500 metres of power cables worth Rs 9 lakh from the tracks near Shahpur station. PTI PJT RSY This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Print
28 minutes ago
- The Print
Mumbai police bust bogus call centre in Delhi; one held for duping people
'The complainant had received a call on his mobile phone in which the caller had promised to increase the limit of his credit card,' he said. The crime had come to light in August last year after a complainant approached the Sion police as he was duped for Rs 4.54 lakh by unidentified fraudsters, an official said. Mumbai, Jun 3 (PTI) The Mumbai police have busted a bogus call centre operating in Delhi, and arrested a 29-year-old man for cheating people by withdrawing money from their credit cards, officials said on Tuesday. The caller had gained the complainant's confidence and obtained his credit card number and other vital details by asking him to fill up details in a link, he said. By using those details, the fraudster withdrew Rs 4.54 lakh from his credit card, he said. During the investigation of the case, it came to light that the number used for calling the complainant was from Delhi, following which a team of the Sion police went to the national capital for investigation, he said. The team conducted a raid at the bogus call centre and arrested the main accused, identified as Manjeet Kumar Mahavir Singh. It came to light that he had set up a call centre in a room, where 11 persons were found making calls to people across the country and cheating them on the promise of increasing the limit of their credit cards, he said. 'While investigating the case, it also came to light that there were 16 online complaints in which the same mobile number was used by the accused persons,' he said. PTI DC NP This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Print
28 minutes ago
- The Print
Adityanath urges BJP leaders to amplify Modi govt's 11-year achievements
Themed '11 Years of Service, Good Governance and Poor Welfare ('seva, sushashan aur gareeb kalyan ke 11 varsh)', the event began with floral tributes to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, the UP government said in a statement. Addressing a state-level workshop organised in Lucknow on the completion of 11 years of the Modi government, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that it is the good fortune of the nation to have the impactful leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Amrit Kaal of independence. Lucknow, Jun 3 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday urged BJP workers to take the achievements of the central government to every citizen. Urging party workers to focus on grassroots engagement, the chief minister said it is everyone's responsibility to communicate the government's 11 years of achievements at the booth level. He called for connecting all sections and organisations with the campaign and highlighting success stories of beneficiaries. Adityanath said that the 11 years of Modi government's performance form the foundation for realizing the vision of a developed India. 'Workers must play an active role in disseminating these achievements at the state, district, mandal, and Shakti Kendra levels,' he said. He encouraged workers not to limit the campaign to the party cadre, but to engage with the general public, professional groups, and direct beneficiaries. Citing recent by-elections, he said that coordinated meetings of party departments and cells had proved effective. BJP's six morchas and 22-23 cells represent every segment of society, including lawyers, doctors, teachers, students, and beneficiaries. Organising meetings with these groups and selecting speakers from among them would ensure effective outreach, he said. Highlighting the success of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Adityanath said that where once illness became a crisis for families, today over 50 crore people in India, including 10 crore in Uttar Pradesh, are covered under the scheme. Through the Ayushman Bharat Vay Vandana Yojana, senior citizens above the age of 70 receive free health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh, without any discrimination. Speaking on progress in healthcare, he said that prior to 2014, India had only one AIIMS. While Atal Bihari Vajpayee established six AIIMS, the Modi government has added 22 more, including two in Uttar Pradesh. The 'One District, One Medical College' vision has made institutions a reality in remote districts such as Maharajganj, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Mirzapur, providing both healthcare access and employment. He urged workers to proudly promote these achievements and counter misinformation from the opposition. He said that PM Narendra Modi is the first Prime Minister to restore Ayodhya's glory. He urged workers to actively participate in programmes like the Tiranga Yatra, Ahilyabai Holkar anniversary, and International Yoga Day. He also called on BJP workers to participate in the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign and River Rejuvenation Programme on World Environment Day (June 5). Adityanath concluded by stating that Uttar Pradesh, under the leadership of the double-engine government, is reaching new heights of development. PTI NAV HIG HIG This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
