CellCentric, a UK-based biotechnology company backed by Pfizer, has raised $120 million in Series C funding to accelerate the development of its first-in-class multiple myeloma treatment, inobrodib. The funding will support pivotal clinical trials and advance the company’s drug development pipeline for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.
Currently in a Phase 2a clinical trial, inobrodib—an oral p300/CBP inhibitor—is being evaluated in combination with dexamethasone and Bristol Myers Squibb’s Imnovid (pomalidomide). The latest readout from the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2024 Annual Meeting showed a promising 75% overall response rate at the highest treatment level.
Funding to Support Accelerated FDA Pathway
The newly raised funds will enable a Phase 2/3 trial targeting patients with heavily pre-treated multiple myeloma, with the goal of generating data for a potential accelerated approval application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
CellCentric also plans to use part of the funding to:
- Launch a Phase 3 clinical program in mid-2026
- Initiate new studies of inobrodib in maintenance therapy settings, including combinations with bispecific antibodies
Strategic Investors Fueling Growth
The Series C round was co-led by RA Capital Management and Forbion, with additional participation from:
- Pfizer
- BrightEdge, the venture capital arm of the American Cancer Society
- Avego Bioscience Capital
This latest raise builds on earlier investments, including a $25 million strategic investment from Pfizer in 2023 and $35 million from RA Capital in 2022.
Inobrodib works by targeting p300/CBP, key regulators of gene expression, to reduce the activity of oncogenic drivers MYC and IRF4—both known to fuel cancer progression in multiple myeloma and other malignancies.
CellCentric, originally spun out of research led by Dr. Azim Surani at the University of Cambridge, is actively expanding its U.S. presence. In April, the company opened a new office in Burlington, near Boston, to enhance its drug development capabilities and strengthen collaboration with North American partners.
