Callio Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on developing multi-payload antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for cancer treatment, has launched with $187 million in Series A financing. The funding round was led by Frazier Life Sciences with participation from Jeito Capital, Novo Holdings A/S, Omega Funds, and other life sciences investors. Headquartered in Seattle and Singapore, Callio aims to achieve clinical proof-of-concept for its HER2-targeted dual-payload ADC and a second undisclosed program. The company has also secured an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Hummingbird Bioscience for its multi-payload ADC platform, intellectual property, and oncology pipeline assets.
Callio’s management team includes experienced professionals from biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies such as ProfoundBio, SeaGen, and Genentech. CEO and co-Founder Piers Ingram said, "We are delighted to be launching Callio Therapeutics with the support of Frazier Life Sciences and this syndicate of investors. Multi-payload ADCs have the potential to enable the targeted delivery of rational drug combinations to cancer cells, and may provide significantly enhanced efficacy." The company’s lead program, a HER2-targeted dual-payload ADC, is designed to enhance therapeutic effectiveness while addressing the limitations of existing ADC therapies.
