Cylene Pharmaceuticals
Cylene Pharmaceuticals in San Diego is a biotech pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of targeted small-molecule drugs to treat life-threatening cancers. Using its proprietary Ribosomal RNA Biosynthesis Inhibition Technology ((RABIT™) to design molecules that combat drug-resistant forms of cancer, Cylene has created multiple product candidates in different stages of development. Cylene's most advanced cancer agent, CX-3543 is a Ribosomal RNA Biogenesis Inhibitor (RBI) in late-stage Phase I clinical development for multiple cancers. CX-3543 acts as an RBI by targeting a Protein:DNA interaction that is amplified in cancer cells during Pol I transcription of the rRNA genes.
In 2001, Research Corporation Technologies, Sanderling Ventures, Novartis BioVentures and IngleWood Ventures made a joint $3.5 million Series A investment in Cylene. IngleWood Ventures, a San Diego venture fund, led the financing round.
Cylene completed a $26.3 million Series B financing, led by Coastview Capital, in May 2005. The funding allowed Cylene to advance CX-3543 into clinical development. In addition to Coastview Capital, other investors include BioVentures Investors, Mitsui & Co. Venture Partners, Morningside Venture Investments, TDL Investors, William Harris Investors, Lakeview Capital and the Viterbi Group. Existing shareholders Research Corporation Technologies, Sanderling Ventures, Novartis BioVentures and IngleWood Ventures also participated in this round.
The company closed a $44 million Series C financing in January 2007, co-led by HBM BioVentures (Cayman) Ltd. and Lilly Ventures. Proceeds from the financing will be used to fund human clinical trials for Phase II studies of CX-3543 in several different cancer indications and to advance two more products into development.
In addition to HBM BioVentures (Cayman) Ltd. and Lilly Ventures, other new and returning investors include: Sanderling Ventures, Novartis BioVenture Fund, BioVentures Investors, Research Corporation Technologies, Mitsui & Co. Venture Partners and Celgene Corporation.
Inventors/Founder
Laurence Hurley, Ph.D., D.Sc., University of Arizona (Hurley discovered and initially developed the Cylene technologies while at the University of Texas at Austin), Daniel D. Von Hoff, M.D., Unversity of Arizona
Cylene Contact
William G. Rice, CEO
(858) 866-1605
RCT Contact
Shaun A. Kirkpatrick, President & CEO
Related Web Sites
IngleWood Ventures
Sanderling Ventures
Novartis Bioventures
Cylene Pharmaceuticals Inc.