News

The MIF Invests in Luminary Therapeutics, KAHR, and Telo Therapeutics to Accelerate Novel Therapies for the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma

December 21, 2022

The Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF), the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation’s (MMRF) venture philanthropy subsidiary, today announced investments in Luminary Therapeutics, a company using advanced receptor design to improve the depth and durability of patient responses to cell therapy; KAHR, a clinical stage company developing immune-recruiting therapies to address immune escape by tumors; and Telo Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing second generation inhibitors of nuclear transport against a clinically validated target for multiple myeloma.

Abcuro Initiates Phase 1/2 Trial Evaluating ABC008 in Patients with T Cell Large Granular Lymphocytic Leukemia

October 7, 2022

MIF portfolio company Abcuro, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing therapies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer through precise modulation of cytotoxic T and NK cells, has announced initiation of a Phase 1/2 dose escalation trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and proof-of-concept of ABC008 in patients with T cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T-LGLL) who suffer from anemia and/or neutropenia. ABC008 is a first-in-class anti-KLRG1 antibody capable of selectively depleting highly cytotoxic T cells, while sparing regulatory T cells, central memory T cells, and other immune cells.

Triumvira Immunologics Presents Initial HER2-Positive Solid Tumor Clinical Data at ESMO

October 7, 2022

MIF portfolio company Triumvira Immunologics (“Triumvira”) recently announced positive initial clinical data from its ongoing TACTIC 2 Phase 1/2 trial of TAC01-HER2 in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive solid tumors. Initial clinical data demonstrate TAC01-HER2 was well-tolerated in both dosing cohorts and early signals of clinical activity were observed in the higher of the two dosing cohorts, demonstrating a 75% disease control rate, including one partial response. These initial results were presented in a poster at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2022 Congress.

MIF Portfolio Company CytoImmune Therapeutics and City of Hope announce the first patient has been dosed in a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating novel cellular therapy CYTO-102

August 2, 2022

CytoImmune Therapeutics, a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company that is developing a novel class of engineered natural killer (NK) cell-based cancer therapies, and City of Hope, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States today announced that the first patient has been dosed in a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating CYTO-102, a novel cellular therapy consisting of PD-L1-positive tumor-reactive TRACK-NKTM cells. The trial is assessing CYTO-102 as a monotherapy and in combination with atezolizumab in patients with relapsed/refractory non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

MIF Invests in Triumvira Immunologics to Advance Novel (TAC)-T Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma

March 17, 2022

The Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF), the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation’s (MMRF) venture philanthropy subsidiary, today announced an investment in Triumvira Immunologics (“Triumvira”), an Austin, TX-based clinical-stage biotech developing novel, targeted autologous and allogeneic T cell immunotherapies that co-opt the natural biology of T cells to treat solid tumors and blood cancers.

Myeloma Investment Fund Portfolio Company Indapta Therapeutics, Inc., Announces $50 million in Series A-1 Financing

February 10, 2022

The Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF), the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation’s (MMRF) venture philanthropy subsidiary, today announced its portfolio company Indapta Therapeutics, Inc., has raised more than $50 million in Series A-1 financing and made new appointments to its executive leadership. Indapta is a San Francisco, CA-based biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing a proprietary NK (natural killer) cell therapy platform for the treatment of blood and solid tumor cancers.

Cullinan Oncology Receives FDA Clearance of Investigational New Drug (IND) Application for CLN-619

July 28, 2021

The Myeloma Investment Fund portfolio company Cullinan Oncology recently announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared its Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for CLN-619, a novel MICA/B-targeted antibody. With this clearance, the biotech will begin a clinical trial in patients with solid tumors and has plans to expand the trial to myeloma patients in future cohorts.

Sanofi Acquires MIF Portfolio Company Tidal Therapeutics

April 9, 2021

Global biopharmaceutical company Sanofi has announced the acquisition of the Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF) portfolio company Tidal Therapeutics, a Cambridge, MA-based biotech developing a new technology platform for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases.

Tidal’s platform uses mRNA to modify T cells directly in the patient’s body, reprogramming them to target myeloma and B cell malignancies. However, unlike existing CAR-T therapies, Tidal’s approach does not require the removal and reinfusion of the patient’s cells. With its acquisition, Sanofi will further develop the technology platform to expand its research capabilities in immuno-oncology and inflammatory diseases.

“We are thrilled to see Sanofi moving this novel technology forward in immuno-oncology,” said Peter Kosa, Ph.D., MBA, Managing Director of the Myeloma Investment Fund. “Its acquisition of Tidal demonstrates the viability of investing in cutting-edge companies that are driving promising precision medicine approaches to better treat and ultimately cure myeloma. With each investment, the MIF is advancing the next generation of therapies, and also helping to catalyze the biotech and venture capital community to fund the most innovative research in myeloma.”

The MIF was established in 2019 by the MMRF to accelerate the development of new myeloma therapies through venture investment. Since its launch, the MIF has invested in six portfolio companies developing innovative therapeutic approaches and technology platforms that may be used to treat multiple myeloma.

Myeloma Investment Fund Announces Investment in Fortis Therapeutics, Inc.

March 29, 2021

The Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF), the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation’s (MMRF) venture philanthropy subsidiary, has announced an investment in Fortis Therapeutics, Inc., a San Diego-based biotech developing a novel immunotherapy for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. This is the MIF’s sixth investment since its launch in 2019.

With this investment, the MIF joins Avalon Ventures, Bregua Corporation, Lilly Asia Ventures, Osage University Partners, Vivo Capital, and the Prostate Cancer Foundation in helping to advance Fortis’ antibody drug conjugate (ADC) FOR46 through clinical trials. Early-stage data suggest FOR46 shows effectiveness against the immune modulatory receptor CD46, which is highly expressed in multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, and other tumor types.

The MMRF previously supported early development of FOR46 through an immune translational research grant to Fortis Founder Bin Liu at the University of California, San Francisco. The results of that research, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation in 2016, identified CD46 as a promising target for treatment of multiple myeloma.

NexImmune Announces Pricing of Upsized Initial Public Offering

February 11, 2021

NexImmune, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a novel approach to immunotherapy designed to employ the body’s own T cells to generate a specific, potent and durable immune response that mimics natural biology, today announced the pricing of its upsized initial public offering of 6,471,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $17.00 per share.

Myeloma Investment Fund Portfolio Company Abcuro Announces Series A-1 Financing

January 27, 2021

The Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), announced its portfolio company Abcuro, Inc, has raised $42 million in Series A-1 financing and made new appointments to its executive leadership.

Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and Indapta Therapeutics Announce Investment to Advance Clinical Development of Natural Killer Cell Therapy

October 28, 2020

The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and Indapta Therapeutics announced a partnership to support the advancement of the company’s universal G-NK cell therapy into clinical trials for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma.

Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) Venture Philanthropy Fund Invests in Cullinan MICA to Bring First-In-Class Immuno-Oncology Antibody into the Clinic

June 11, 2020

Cullinan Oncology LLC and PDI Therapeutics, a portfolio company of Avalon Ventures, today announced a collaboration to bring CLN-619, a first-in-class monoclonal antibody reinvigorating the MICA/NKG2D axis into human clinical testing.

Neximmune Receives IND Clearance for Phase 1/2 Trial in Relapsed / Refractory Multiple Myeloma

December 19, 2019

NexImmune, a valued MIF partner, received Investigational New Drug (IND) clearance for the company’s second cellular therapy, developed to treat relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients.

Myeloma Investment Fund F.A.Q.

November 20, 2019

Tidal President and CEO Ulrik Nielsen talks with us about the partnership with the MMRF and how it enhances the development of more precise treatments for multiple myeloma.

In Quest for Cures, Medical Nonprofits Seek to Wield Their Own Venture Funding Power

May 31, 2019

Advocates for disease research diving into fundraising in bid to wield more influence inside the startup ecosystem.

Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) Venture Philanthropy Fund Invests in NexImmune to Advance Novel Immunotherapy Candidate Into Clinical Trials

April 29, 2019

Partnership yields the first investment from newly launched MMRF Myeloma Investment Fund.

Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) Launches Novel Investment Fund to Drive Development of New Myeloma Treatments

April 16, 2019

Fund seeks to attract promising companies to the field, accelerating advances in multiple myeloma research and creating a self-sustaining investment model.