Syncona supplied a third of the investment and retains a majority stake in Freeline, which is based on research at UCL.
Freeline, a UK-based gene therapy spinout from University College London (UCL) formed by commercialisation firm Syncona, today closed a $120m series C round featuring the latter investor.
Pharmaceutical firm Novo Holdings, investment adviser Eventide Asset Management and investment management firm Wellington Management Company co-led the round, which also featured Cowen Healthcare Investments, Acorn Bioventures and Ample Plus Fund.
Syncona supplied $40m in a first tranche in December 2019 and retains a majority stake of 60%, down from 80%.
Founded in 2015, Freeline is working on adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapies aimed at the liver to tackle chronic, systemic conditions through a one-time treatment.
The capital will enable Freeline to move its candidate targeting haemophilia B – a disorder causing bleeding in the joints – into a pivotal trial, and to continue a phase 1/2 study for Fabry disease, a lysosomal storage disease that affects the heart,…
Thierry Heles
Thierry Heles is the editor of Global University Venturing, host of the Beyond the Breakthrough interview podcast and responsible for the monthly GUV Gazette (sign up here for free).
