Based on Stanford research, Surrozen is working on regenerative treatments for a wide range of conditions, with a first focus on liver disease.
Surrozen, a US-based biopharmaceutical spinout of Stanford University, has closed a $50m series B round that included Hartford Healthcare Endowment, the health system’s endowment arm.
Horizons Ventures, NS Investment and Column Group also participated in the round, as did several new and existing backers that were not identified.
Anna Berkenblit, senior vice-president and chief medical officer at biotechnology firm Immunogen, joined Surrozen’s board of directors in conjunction with the round but it is unclear whether the corporate invested in the spinout.
Founded in 2016, Surrozen is developing therapies based on Wnt signaling, a central factor in organism development, stem-cell maintenance and tissue regeneration.
The approach is expected to have applications in a wide range of conditions, with Surrozen initially focusing on liver disease. The series B capital will support the further development of these programs and enable Surrozen to explore additional disease areas.
The spinout is advancing work led by K Christopher Garcia, professor of molecular and cellular physiology and structural biology at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Garcia collaborated with his then postdoctoral associate Claudia Janda, who is now a senior scientist at Surrozen.
The pair was supported by fellow co-founders Roeland Nusse, the Virginia and Daniel K Ludwig professor of cancer research and professor of developmental biology, and Calvin Kuo, the Maureen Lyles D’Ambrogio professor of medicine and professor of chemical and systems biology.
Column Group previously led a $33m series A round for Surrozen in February 2017.
