This firm is hunting for a cancer cure

Zumutor, an immunooncology firm, researches and develops antibodies that can battle cancer. Currently, it is working on immuno-oncotherapeutics molecules created through its antibody discovery platform, INABLR.
The Boston-headquartered startup, which was founded by second-time entrepreneur and former Biocon executive Kavitha Iyer Rodrigues in June 2015, has US and EU patents for this platform. “Our robust IP portfolio has a landscape beyond 2034,” she said.

Backing from a well-established fund, Accel Partners, made the process of raising cash easier for the company. Accel was also a part of her previous venture.

“Getting investment in devices, pharmaceuticals and hospitals has been easier because of easy understanding. But innovative therapy is complex,” said Kavitha.

Currently, the firm has funding of $20 million. Recently, it raised Series A round from Bharat Innovation Fund and existing investors. IDG Ventures, Aarin Capital and the Karnataka government’s Information Technology Venture Capital Fund have also invested in the startup.

Despite seed capital, it took the firm 14 months to set up its laboratory and other infrastructure. “We had it more difficult compared to startups of this day and age, where labs and incubation centres are available,” she said.

Zumutor’s cross-functional team of 25 works with scientific advisers in a research and development lab in Bengaluru. In a key development, its antibody molecule to fight prostate cancer has reached the stage of clinical trials.

“Our first-in-class lead molecule, ZM 008, has made industry validated progress and is poised for IND filing, with phase 1a/1b clinical trials likely to commence by 2020 end. The recent fundraising will help us reach pivotal stages in that,” Kavitha said.

Collaborations are a major part of the biologics firm’s R&D work. An important partnership, with USbased pharma major Catalent, was struck in 2016. The latter’s proprietary GPEx technology is meant to improve the efficacy of cancer treatment.

Two years later, Zumutor inked a partnership for a biotherapeutic antibody discovery service with Syngene International. The startup has also collaborated with with Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, HCI in Utah, Strand Life Sciences in Bengaluru, and IISER in Pune.