Terremoto Biosciences raises $108M to crack the AKT inhibitor puzzle
What's the deal? Terremoto Biosciences, a South San Francisco-based biotech, has closed a $108M Series C to advance its selective AKT1 inhibitor programmes through clinical trials. New investors include RA Capital Management and BeOne Medicines, alongside existing backers Third Rock Ventures and Novo HoldingsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
The company is targeting two distinct disease areas: solid tumours with specific genetic mutations — including a significant proportion of breast cancer cases — and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), a rare inherited bleeding disorder with no approved treatments. Its lead cancer programme is in Phase 1 trials; its HHT programme is expected to enter the clinic later this year.
Why now? AKT inhibitors are not new, but existing ones have been held back by side effects. Terremoto claims its drugs target only the disease-driving form of the protein, sparing the variant linked to toxicity — potentially offering better results with fewer side effects.
What could go wrong? The AKT pathway has attracted significant investment before without producing blockbuster drugs. Selectivity claims made in preclinical studies don't always hold up in humans, and Phase 1 is still an early bar to clear. HHT is also an ultra-rare disease, which limits the addressable market even if the programme succeeds.
The signal: Terremoto's raise reflects sustained investor appetite for precision oncology even in a tighter funding environment. The participation of BeOne Medicines — a Chinese pharma with deep oncology expertise — alongside blue-chip Western investors like RA Capital and Third Rock signals broad conviction in the AKT1 selectivity thesis. If it works, it could open a new chapter for a pathway that has long promised more than it has delivered.
Sources:
Terremoto Biosciences
Fierce Biotech
Endpoints News
Image credit:
Terremoto Biosciences
J.V.
