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Arch Oncology is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing biologic therapies and anti-CD47 antibodies for patients with solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, based in Brisbane, California, and St. Louis, Missouri. The privately held biotechnology firm operates with a specialized team of 27 employees and generates an estimated $6.3 million in annual revenue. To advance its clinical trials and its lead product candidate, AO-176, the enterprise has secured over $150 million in total venture funding, highlighted by a $105 million Series C financing round. This substantial growth capital was raised from a syndicate of prominent institutional backers, including Eventide Asset Management, Roche Venture Fund, RiverVest Venture Partners, and Lightstone Ventures. Originally established and incorporated as Tioma Therapeutics before undergoing a corporate rebranding, the biopharmaceutical company was founded in 2006 by William Frazier and Laurence Blumberg.
Arch Oncology has raised $241.0M across 3 funding rounds.
Arch Oncology has raised $241.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Arch Oncology has raised $241.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Arch Oncology's investors include Joe Biller, CFA, Eric Pham, Joy Ghosh, Adage Capital Management, Avego Healthcare Capital, Broadfin Holdings, FMB Research, Lightchain, Point72, John McKearn, Roche, Rodger Riney.
Arch Oncology has raised $241.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $105.0M Series C in May 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2021 | $105M Series C | JOE Biller, CFA, Eric Pham, JOY Ghosh | Adage Capital Management, Avego Healthcare Capital, Broadfin Holdings, FMB Research, Lightchain, Point72, John Mckearn, Roche | Announced |
| Mar 25, 2019 | $50M Series B | Rodger Riney | 3X5 Partners, John Mckearn, Roche | Announced |
| Aug 1, 2016 | $86M Series A | Novo Ventures, SR ONE, John Mckearn, Carole Nuechterlein | Avalon Ventures, Deerfield Management, Domain Associates, MPM Capital, OrbiMed, Osage University Partners, Pivotal BioVenture Partners, Rivervest, Roche Venture Fund, Heather Preston | Announced |
Arch Oncology is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology biotechnology company, not a general technology company, focused on discovering and developing novel antibody-based therapeutics targeting cancer.[1][2][3] Its lead candidate, AO-176, is a differentiated anti-CD47 antibody in Phase 1/2 trials for solid tumors (e.g., ovarian, breast, lung cancers) and hematologic malignancies (e.g., multiple myeloma), designed to kill tumor cells directly, block the CD47 "don't eat me" signal, induce immunogenic cell death, and spare red blood cells by binding preferentially to tumors in low-pH microenvironments.[1][2][4] The company serves cancer patients and healthcare providers, addressing unmet needs in refractory and advanced cancers through monotherapy and combinations like pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®).[1][5] With $243.77M raised (including a $105M Series C in 2021), it operates from headquarters in Brisbane, CA, and a lab in St. Louis, MO, employing 11-50 people in a science-driven environment.[2][3][5]
Arch Oncology was founded in 2006 in Brisbane, California, emerging from the biotech hub to pioneer next-generation anti-CD47 therapies amid growing interest in immuno-oncology.[3][5] Specific founders are not detailed in available sources, but the company originated with a focus on antibody discovery for solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, leveraging St. Louis's research ecosystem for its lab.[2] Early traction included advancing AO-176 into Phase 1/2 trials, demonstrating encouraging safety and anti-tumor activity as monotherapy, which paved the way for collaborations like the Merck partnership for combination trials with KEYTRUDA® in solid tumors.[1][5] A pivotal moment was the 2021 $105M Series C financing, co-led by Eventide Asset Management and Cowen Healthcare Investments, fueling pipeline expansion.[1][3][6]
Arch Oncology stands out in the crowded immuno-oncology field through AO-176's multifaceted mechanism and pipeline potential:
Arch Oncology rides the immuno-oncology wave, particularly CD47-targeted therapies, amid surging demand for precision biologics in hard-to-treat cancers like refractory multiple myeloma (35% Phase II success benchmark for AO-176).[4] Timing aligns with post-2020 biotech funding peaks and combo immunotherapy trends, as seen in its Merck tie-up, capitalizing on market forces like aging populations, rising cancer incidence, and failures of earlier CD47 agents due to anemia risks.[1][5][6] It influences the ecosystem by validating tumor-preferential antibodies, filing key patents, and contributing to Phase II data that could shift standards in solid/hematologic tumors, while its Series C success signals investor confidence in differentiated biologics.[3][6]
Arch Oncology's path hinges on AO-176 trial readouts, potentially yielding Phase III transitions by 2026-2027 if safety/efficacy holds, with combos accelerating approvals amid 35% PTSR for key indications.[4] Trends like AI-driven antibody design, global trials, and immunotherapy synergies will shape it, possibly leading to partnerships, buyouts, or IPO as biotech M&A rebounds. Its influence could grow by redefining CD47 class viability, delivering therapies to underserved patients and reinforcing biotech's role in oncology innovation—echoing its origins as a 2006 pioneer now at a clinical inflection point.[1][3][5]
