Outpace Bio Raises $144M for AI-Driven Cell Therapy Development
Outpace Bio plans to bring its lead program, OPB-101, to IND clearance and initiate dosing by 2025 for advanced platinum-resistant cancers.
Company Name: Outpace Bio
Location: Seattle, WA
Sector: Biotechnology, Cell Therapy
Funding Details: Raised $144 million in Series B financing, bringing total funding to approximately $200 million.
Purpose of Investment: To advance multiple engineered T cell therapy candidates through early clinical trials for the treatment of solid tumors and to expand the company's pipeline of innovative therapies.
Leadership: Led by Marc Lajoie, PhD, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer.
Product and Innovation: Outpace Bio utilizes AI-powered protein design to enhance the functionality of immune cells. The company’s lead product, OPB-101, targets solid tumors using a mesothelin-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell, enhanced with Outpace’s proprietary technologies OUTSMART™, OUTLAST™, OUTSPACER™, and OUTSAFE™.
Notable Investors: The round was led by RA Capital Management and included new investors such as Qatar Investment Authority, Surveyor Capital, Sheatree Capital, Black Opal Ventures, Alexandria Venture Investments, and others. Existing investors include ARTIS Ventures, Playground Global, Bristol Myers Squibb, and more.
Company Growth and Future Plans: With the new funding, Outpace Bio plans to bring its lead program, OPB-101, to IND clearance and initiate dosing by 2025 for advanced platinum-resistant cancers. The funds will also support the expansion of their innovative cell therapy platform, potentially revolutionizing treatment options for patients with solid tumors.
Board of Directors: Jake Simson, PhD, Partner at RA Capital Management, has been appointed to Outpace Bio’s Board of Directors, bringing valuable expertise to guide the company’s strategic direction.