Disco Pharmaceuticals has recently taken the pharmaceutical stage, bolstered by AbbVie’s venture capital arm and securing a substantial €20 million ($21.8 million) in seed financing to propel its lung and colorectal cancer candidates forward.
The German biotech Disco Pharmaceuticals emphasizes that the limited pool of cancer-selective cell surface targets impedes progress. Disco underscores the fact that there exist fewer than 30 molecular targets forming the bedrock of all antibody-based therapies, highlighting the pressing need for innovation.
In response, the Cologne-based company has pioneered a surfaceome mapping platform, a groundbreaking technology capable of discerning proteins adorning the surface of cancer cells. This innovation broadens the scope of potential targets for both mono- and bispecific antibodies, addressing the constraints posed by the current restricted selection.
Disco announced the completion of what it claims to be the inaugural surfaceome mapping of a cancer type, specifically small-cell lung cancer. Leveraging this achievement, the company is now actively developing antibody-based treatments. Furthermore, Disco is venturing into the realm of microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer. Beyond these two focal points, the biotech tantalizingly hints at an undisclosed pipeline of programs under development.
Established in May 2022 as a spinout from Switzerland’s ETH Zürich research university, Disco boasts an accomplished leadership team. Roman Thomas, a distinguished professor of translational genomics at Cologne University, assumes the role of CEO, while Dieter Weinand, former CEO of German pharma giant Bayer, presides as the chairman of the board.
“We believe that our surfaceome discovery technology is truly disruptive and will transform oncology treatment options and ultimately improve outcomes for patients,” asserts Thomas. He emphasizes the validation of their technology platform through the completion of surfaceome mapping in small-cell lung cancer within months, signaling its potential application across diverse indications.
Sofinnova Partners spearheaded the seed financing round, buoyed by support from AbbVie Ventures, Panakes Partners, and M Ventures. Antoine Papiernik, chairman and managing partner of Sofinnova, conveyed the enduring optimism among investors regarding the European biotech scene.
Having emerged from stealth, Disco Pharmaceuticals now possesses the financial backing to advance its cancer cell surface mapping technology-developed candidates in the field of oncology therapeutics. The contributions from AbbVie’s venture capital arm, Panakes Partners, and M Ventures, combined with Sofinnova Partners’ leadership in the financing round, set the stage for Disco to flourish.
