cAMPfield launches with $180M Series A for oral IBD drug
What's the deal? cAMPfield Therapeutics has launched out of stealth with a $180 million Series A to advance prifemilast, a once-daily oral PDE4B-selective inhibitor, into global Phase 2 trials for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The round was led by Frazier Life SciencesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, with participation from Venrock, AbingworthDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, ForbionDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Novo HoldingsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Longitude CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, RA Capital Management and Deep Track CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
Why now? Inflammatory bowel disease affects millions worldwide, and the current standard of care leans heavily on injected or infused biologics. An oral therapy that matches their efficacy would remove a major barrier to treatment. Oral PDE4 inhibitors have already shown efficacy in Phase 2 ulcerative colitis studies, and cAMPfield is betting that prifemilast's PDE4B selectivity can deliver that efficacy with a cleaner tolerability profile.
The signal: A $180 million debut is a heavyweight Series A for a single-asset biotech, and the syndicate behind it — a who's-who of dedicated life-sciences investors — signals strong conviction in the asset. It underlines how much appetite remains for differentiated drug candidates addressing large, biologic-dominated markets. If the Phase 2 data lands, prifemilast could reshape the IBD treatment paradigm toward convenient oral therapy.
Read more: cAMPfield Therapeutics · PR Newswire
