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§ Private Profile · San Diego, CA, USA
biotech developing novel therapies for chronic pruritus and sensory disorders, focused on MRGPR-targeted drugs.
Escient Pharmaceuticals is a San Diego, California-based biotechnology company that develops novel therapies targeting Mas-Related G Protein-Coupled Receptors to treat chronic pruritus and other sensory disorders. The company advances proprietary drug candidates from discovery through clinical trials, with its lead program, EP547, addressing neurological itch associated with liver and kidney conditions. The venture-backed firm has raised significant capital to fund the advancement of its clinical pipeline, including a $40 million Series A round and a $77.5 million Series B round, while scaling its workforce to 36 employees. Escient Pharmaceuticals is backed by lead investor The Column Group and is currently guided by an executive team that includes Chief Executive Officer Joshua Grass and Chief Medical Officer Christian Weyer. The biotechnology organization was founded in 2017 by Marcus F. Boehm, Alain Baron, and Xinzhong Dong.
Escient Pharmaceuticals has raised $238.0M across 3 funding rounds.
Escient Pharmaceuticals has raised $238.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Escient Pharmaceuticals has raised $238.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $120.0M Series C in November 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2022 | $120M Series C | Abingworth, Forge Life Science Partners, NEA | 5AM Ventures, Access Biotechnology, Atlas Venture, Carol Gallagher, Robert Garland, Nextech Invest, OrbiMed, Osage University Partners, Sanofi Ventures, The Column Group, Altitude Life Science Ventures, Avego Bioscience Capital, Cowen Healthcare Investments, PFM Health Sciences, Redmile Group, The Eleven Fund | Announced |
| Sep 1, 2020 | $78M Series B | Sanofi Ventures, Kevin Raidy | 5AM Ventures, Access Biotechnology, Atlas Venture, Carol Gallagher, Robert Garland, Nextech Invest, OrbiMed, Osage University Partners, The Column Group, Perceptive Advisors, Redmile Group | Announced |
| May 1, 2018 | $40M Series A | 5AM Ventures, The Column Group | Carol Gallagher, Robert Garland, Nextech Invest, OrbiMed, Osage University Partners, Sanofi Ventures | Announced |
Escient Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class, oral small molecule therapeutics targeting Mas-related G protein-coupled receptors (MRGPRs) to treat neurosensory-inflammatory disorders, including chronic urticaria, atopic dermatitis, cholestatic pruritus, and primary biliary cholangitis.[1][2][3][4] Its lead candidates, EP-262 (MRGPRX2 antagonist) and EP-547 (MRGPRX4 antagonist), are in Phase 2 trials, addressing unmet needs in mast cell-mediated and itch-related conditions where current treatments are insufficient.[1][4] Backed by top-tier investors like The Column Group, 5AM Ventures, Sanofi Ventures, and others, Escient has raised significant funding, including a $77.5 million Series B in 2020, and was headquartered in San Diego, CA, with a team experienced in GPCR drug discovery.[2][5] Note that Escient was acquired by Incyte, marking the end of its independent operations.[4]
Founded in 2018 in San Diego, California, Escient was established by a team of biotechnology entrepreneurs with deep expertise in GPCR drug discovery and a proven track record of commercializing first-in-class therapeutics.[2][3][5] Led by CEO Alain Baron, M.D., the company emerged from advances in neuro-immunology, focusing on MRGPRs—receptors first identified over 20 years ago but newly recognized for their role in chronic inflammatory diseases.[3] Early milestones included rapid platform development, discovery of candidates like EP-547, and a pivotal $77.5 million Series B round in 2020 led by Sanofi Ventures and Cowen Healthcare Investments, which funded Phase 1b trials for cholestatic pruritus and expanded the MRGPRX2 program.[5] This funding propelled Escient from inception to clinical-stage within two years, culminating in Incyte's acquisition of its pipeline.[4]
Escient stood out in biotech through its specialized focus on the neurosensory-inflammatory axis, leveraging proprietary expertise in MRGPR biology:
Escient rode the wave of neuro-immunology advances, targeting the neurosensory-immune interface where neural activation drives chronic inflammation—a trend gaining traction with growing recognition of MRGPRs in diseases like chronic urticaria and pruritus.[3][4] Its timing capitalized on post-2010s GPCR insights and demand for oral alternatives to injectables/biologics in dermatology and hepatology, amid a biotech boom in precision immunomodulation.[1][5] Market forces favoring it included unmet needs in itch/disorders (e.g., no cures for chronic hives) and investor appetite for platform companies, as seen in its Series B and acquisition.[2][4][5] Escient influenced the ecosystem by validating MRGPRs as a new druggable class, paving the way for Incyte to advance its assets and inspiring similar neuroinflammatory platforms.[4]
Escient's acquisition by Incyte integrates its MRGPR pipeline into a major pharma's resources, accelerating Phase 2 readouts for EP-262 and EP-547 toward potential approvals in underserved pruritic and urticarial diseases.[4] Trends like AI-driven target discovery and neuro-immune therapies will shape this trajectory, with MRGPR antagonists possibly expanding to asthma, autoimmune conditions, and beyond.[1][3] Its influence evolves from indie innovator to bolstered asset within Incyte, potentially delivering transformative oral options and underscoring biotech's high-stakes reward for novel GPCR bets—tying back to its mission of life-changing medicines for neurosensory disorders.[2][4]
Escient Pharmaceuticals has raised $238.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Escient Pharmaceuticals's investors include Abingworth, Forge Life Science Partners, NEA, 5AM Ventures, Access Biotechnology, Atlas Venture, Carol Gallagher, Robert Garland, Nextech Invest, OrbiMed, Osage University Partners, Sanofi Ventures.