Drug Farm Raises $55 Million in Series D Financing
Drug Farm, a company focused on developing treatments using genetics and artificial intelligence, has announced the first closing of its $55 million Series D funding round. The financing was co-led by the Shanghai Pudong Leading Area Investment Center and the Shanghai Puxing Collaborative Private Equity Fund Partnership Enterprise. Other participants included new investors such as Tukar Capital, Fuzhou Xinhe Fund, Shenzhen Luohu Donghai Chempartner Investment Fund, and Keyuan Pharma, along with existing investors like BioVeda China Fund, YD Capital, Jiashan State VC, Detong Capital, Wedo Capital, and Biometas.
Company Leadership
The leadership team at Drug Farm includes Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer 枞 许 and Chief Executive Officer Henri Lichenstein. The company is leveraging its proprietary platforms, such as IDInVivo+, which integrates genetics and AI to identify and validate drug targets directly in living systems, and MedChem5, which is used to advance multiple first-in-class drug candidates into clinical development.
Strategic Use of Funds
The newly secured funds will be used to support the advancement of Drug Farm's clinical and preclinical development pipeline. This includes accelerating global clinical development programs, strengthening regulatory activities across key markets, and expanding research and development capabilities.
Development Focus
Drug Farm is currently developing treatments for a range of conditions, including ROSAH syndrome, heart and kidney diseases, hepatitis B, and metabolic diseases. One of its leading programs, DF-003, is a first-in-class drug developed through its MedChem5 platform. DF-003 targets ALPK1 and has shown clinical improvement in symptoms of ROSAH syndrome in an ongoing Phase 1b study. The company plans to use the funding to complete a pivotal trial in ROSAH syndrome and achieve clinical proof of concept in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Future Prospects
Drug Farm's DF-003 is among the first AI-developed drugs expected to enter a Phase 3 trial, with potential therapeutic applications for heart and kidney diseases. The drug has also received various designations from the FDA, including Fast Track and Orphan Drug status. Additionally, Drug Farm is advancing DF-006, an orally administered ALPK1 agonist immunomodulator designed to stimulate local innate immunity in the liver, which has completed dose evaluation studies.
This funding marks a significant milestone for Drug Farm as it continues to innovate and push the boundaries of drug development through the integration of cutting-edge technology and scientific research.