Pathos AI Secures $365M Series D Funding to Advance AI-Driven Oncology Drug Development

Pathos AI, a Boston-based biotech company leveraging artificial intelligence for oncology drug development, has successfully raised $365 million in a Series D funding round. This substantial investment propels the company's post-money valuation to approximately $1.6 billion and underscores growing confidence in AI-powered approaches to pharmaceutical research and development.

Clinical Pipeline Expansion and AI Platform Enhancement

The newly secured funds will primarily support Pathos AI's clinical-stage pipeline, with a focus on advancing two key programs:

1. Pocenbrodib: A CBP/p300 inhibitor licensed from Novo Nordisk in 2023, currently in a phase 1b/2a trial for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The study explores pocenbrodib as both a monotherapy and in combination with established treatments such as Zytiga, Lynparza, and Pluvicto.

2. P-500: A brain-penetrant PRMT5 inhibitor acquired from Prelude Therapeutics in 2024. Pathos AI plans to launch a new trial for this compound, which has shown potential in solid tumors, including high-grade glioma and uveal melanoma.

In addition to clinical development, Pathos AI will allocate resources to enhance its proprietary PathOS Platform. This AI-driven system aims to identify biomarkers that can help pinpoint patient populations most likely to benefit from specific therapies, potentially streamlining the drug development process.

Strategic Acquisitions and Leadership Changes

Pathos AI's growth strategy has included notable acquisitions, such as the purchase of Rain Oncology in December 2023. This deal brought the phase 3-stage MDM2 inhibitor milademetan into Pathos AI's portfolio, although recent communications have not emphasized this asset.

The company also recently underwent a leadership transition, with Iker Huerga assuming the role of CEO. Huerga, who previously served as chief data scientist for oncology R&D at AstraZeneca, expressed enthusiasm for the company's mission, stating, "Pathos was founded to transform drug development by harnessing the full potential of multimodal data and AI."

Funding Details and Investor Confidence

While specific investors were not disclosed, Pathos AI indicated that the Series D round included a mix of returning backers and new investors. This latest funding comes just seven months after a $62 million Series C round led by New Enterprise Associates, demonstrating rapid financial growth and continued investor interest in the company's AI-driven approach to drug development.

As Pathos AI moves forward with its ambitious plans, the pharmaceutical industry will be watching closely to see how artificial intelligence can potentially revolutionize oncology drug development and clinical trial design.