Last checked at 
26 Feb 2021 13:15
LEI: 549300Q7EXQQH6KF7Z84
26 February 2021
RTW Venture Fund Limited
New Investment in Artiva Biotherapeutics
RTW Participates in $120 Million Financing Round in Artiva Biotherapeutics
RTW Venture Fund Limited (the "Company"), the London Stock Exchange-listed investment company focused on identifying transformative assets with high growth potential across the life sciences sector, is pleased to note the announcement by Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc. ("Artiva") on 26 February 2021 of its completion of a $120 million Series B financing round.
The Company, alongside other investment vehicles of RTW Investments, LP (the "Investment Manager"), confirms that it participated in the financing round together with other investment firms.
Artiva is a privately held clinical-stage oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company developing allogeneic natural killer (NK) cell therapies designed to leverage the innate anti-tumor biology and safety features of NK cells. Artiva's manufacturing platform supports large-scale production and cryopreservation of off-the-shelf allogeneic NK cell therapies, and proprietary CAR-NK and NK-specific gene-editing technologies to augment therapeutic activity. Artiva plans to use the proceeds from the financing to advance its NK cell therapy development programs and expand ongoing research and development activities.
Roderick Wong, MD, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer at the Investment Manager, said:
"Our investment team is excited about Artiva's differentiated approach to develop off-the-shelf allogenic NK cell therapies, coupled with its manufacturing capabilities. We look forward to supporting Artiva's team to bring these potentially transformative therapies to cancer patients. The addition of Artiva to the portfolio further expands our focus on oncology and investing in innovative therapeutic modalities."
The Investment Manager is looking forward to growing the Company's investment pipeline and updating shareholders on further opportunities in due course.
Artiva's announcement can be accessed on its website at: www.artivabio.com, the full text of which is contained below.
For Further Information
RTW Investments, LP +1 (646) 343 9280Stephanie Sirota, Chief Business OfficerAlexandra Taracanova, PhD, Director of Investor Relations
Julia Enright, Senior Business Development Associate
Buchanan +44 (0)20 7466 5107Charles Ryland
Henry Wilson
George Beale
About RTW Venture Fund Limited:
RTW Venture Fund Limited (LSE: RTW) is an investment fund focused on identifying transformative assets with high growth potential across the biopharmaceutical and medical technology sectors. Driven by a long-term approach to support innovative businesses, RTW Venture Fund invests in companies developing next-generation therapies and technologies that can significantly improve patients' lives.
RTW Venture Fund Limited is managed by RTW Investments, LP, a leading healthcare-focused entrepreneurial investment firm with deep scientific expertise and a strong track record of supporting companies developing life-changing therapies.
Visit the RTW website at www.rtwfunds.com for more information.
Artiva Biotherapeutics Raises $120 Million in Series B Financing to Advance Pipeline of Allogeneic NK Cell Therapies
SAN DIEGO, February 26, 2021 -- Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc., an oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company developing cell therapies based on primary allogeneic natural killer (NK) cells that have been optimized for their ability to kill tumors, today announced the closing of a $120 million Series B financing. New investor Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners led the financing. Other new investors participating in the financing included Acuta Capital Partners, Cormorant Asset Management, EcoR1 Capital, Franklin Templeton Investments, Janus Henderson Investors, Logos Capital, RTW Investments, LP, Surveyor Capital (a Citadel Company), Wellington Management Company, and an undisclosed leading global investment firm. Existing investors, 5AM Ventures, RA Capital, and venBio Partners, along with strategic partners GC LabCell (Green Cross LabCell Corporation, KRX: 14451) and GC Holdings (Green Cross Holdings Corporation, KRX: 005250), also participated in the financing. Artiva plans to use the proceeds from the financing to advance its NK cell therapy development programs and expand ongoing research and development activities.
"The quality and support of the investor groups participating in this financing further validates the promise of our manufacturing first strategy, the potential of our NK cell platform, and our goal to provide safe, effective, and truly off-the-shelf cell therapy treatments that are immediately accessible to cancer patients," said Fred Aslan, M.D., CEO of Artiva. "I would also like to welcome Bong Koh to our board of directors and look forward to drawing upon his expertise as we continue to advance our clinical and other development activities."
"Artiva is a promising company with differentiated technology, strong manufacturing capabilities and a talented management team," said Bong Koh, M.D., with Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners. "I look forward to working closely with Artiva's board and management during this exciting period of growth for the company."
Artiva's cell therapies are designed to leverage the innate anti-tumor biology and safety features of NK cells. The therapies are optimized for targeted anti-cancer activity through CARs, or ADCC enhancement through therapeutic antibody or innate-cell engager combination therapy. Artiva's manufacturing platform supports large-scale production and cryopreservation of off-the-shelf allogeneic NK cell therapies, and proprietary CAR-NK and NK-specific gene-editing technologies to augment therapeutic activity.
About Artiva Biotherapeutics
Artiva's mission is to deliver to cancer patients highly effective cellular immunotherapies that are safe and immediately accessible. Artiva's pipeline includes AB-101, an ADCC enhancer NK-cell therapy for use in combination with monoclonal antibodies or innate-cell engagers. The company is currently advancing a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of AB-101 in combination with rituximab for the treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphomas. The company's CAR-NK programs include AB-201, a novel HER2-specific CAR-NK cell therapy for the treatment of HER2+ solid tumors, and AB-202, a CD19-specific CAR-NK cell therapy for the treatment of B-cell malignancies, which are being developed under Artiva's master license and option agreement with GC LabCell Corporation, with plans to enter clinical trials in 2022. The company has entered into therapeutic NK cell collaborations and/or license agreements with Merck and with Affimed N.V. Artiva's NK cell platform incorporates cell expansion, activation, and engineering technology developed by the company's corporate partner, GC LabCell, a member of the GC family of companies, one of the Republic of Korea's leading biopharmaceutical groups. Artiva is headquartered in San Diego. For additional information about Artiva Biotherapeutics, please visit www.artivabio.com.
Contacts:
Media:
Jessica Yingling, Ph.D.
Little Dog Communications
jessica@litldog.com, +1.858.344.8091
Investors:
Robert H. Uhl
Westwicke ICR
Robert.uhl@westwicke.com, +1.619.228.5886