Pfizer-Backed CellCentric Secures $120M for Pivotal Multiple Myeloma Trials

CellCentric, a British biotech company with backing from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, has successfully raised $120 million in a Series C funding round. This significant investment will propel the company's oral p300/CBP inhibitor, inobrodib, into pivotal trials for multiple myeloma, marking a crucial step in the drug's development journey.

Funding Details and Investor Support

The funding round was co-led by RA Capital Management and new investor Forbion, with additional participation from Avego Bioscience Capital and BrightEdge, the American Cancer Society's venture capital arm. This substantial raise, particularly noteworthy in what CellCentric CEO Will West describes as a "challenging market," underscores the potential of inobrodib and the strength of the company's expanded team.

CellCentric's ability to secure this funding follows previous strategic investments, including $25 million from Pfizer in 2023 and $35 million from RA Capital last year. These investments highlight the growing interest in CellCentric's innovative approach to cancer treatment.

Inobrodib: Promising Results and Future Trials

Inobrodib, CellCentric's lead candidate, is currently undergoing a phase 2a study in combination with dexamethasone and Bristol Myers Squibb's Imnovid for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The drug has shown promising results, with a 75% overall response rate at the highest dose level, as reported at last year's American Society of Hematology meeting.

The newly secured funds will primarily support a phase 2/3 study in patients with heavily pretreated multiple myeloma. This pivotal trial aims to generate data for an accelerated approval filing with the FDA. Additionally, CellCentric plans to initiate a phase 3 program in mid-2026 and begin trials of inobrodib with various bispecific antibodies in the maintenance setting in the coming weeks.

Strategic Expansion and Future Outlook

While rooted in the work of University of Cambridge developmental biologist Azim Surani, Ph.D., CellCentric has been actively expanding its presence in the United States. The company recently opened a new office in Burlington, near Boston, to increase its drug development capacity.

CellCentric's focus on targeting p300/CBP with inobrodib aims to lower the expression of MYC and IRF4, known cancer drivers. This innovative approach has garnered significant attention and investment, positioning the company for potential breakthroughs in multiple myeloma treatment.

As CellCentric advances its clinical programs and expands its operations, the pharmaceutical industry will be watching closely to see if inobrodib can deliver on its promise and potentially reshape the landscape of multiple myeloma treatment.