Seismic Therapeutic, the trailblazing machine learning immunology company, has sealed the deal on a staggering $121 million in Series B financing. The funding round was spearheaded by Bessemer Venture Partners, with participation from a lineup of impressive investors, including Amgen Ventures, Codon Capital, Alexandria Venture Investments, Gaingels, GC&H, and existing backers such as Timothy A. Springer, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Polaris Partners, Boxer Capital, GV, and Samsara BioCapital, along with contributions from management and founders.
The substantial injection of capital will propel Seismic Therapeutic’s lead programs, namely the pan‑immunoglobulin (Ig) G protease sculpting (Sc) enzyme candidate (S-1117) and a PD-1 agonist:Fc gamma receptor IIb selective Dual-cell Bidirectional (DcB) antibody candidate (S-4321), through Phase 1 proof-of-mechanism trials. Furthermore, the funds will fuel the expansion of Seismic’s pipeline across both the IgSc and DcB product realms beyond the lead programs. Additionally, the financing will empower the company to enhance its proprietary machine learning-enabled IMPACT platform, reinforcing its capabilities for biologics drug discovery in immunology.
Andrew Hedin, MBA, Biotech and Healthcare Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, will now join Seismic’s board of directors as part of the financing arrangement. The strategic collaboration aims to harness Seismic’s innovative approach to immunology drug development, leveraging the potential of its unique fusion of machine learning and drug development expertise.
Seismic Therapeutic’s impressive progress to date includes the advancement of two programs into IND-enabling studies since the company’s launch and the announcement of its Series A round. The company’s distinctive approach involves integrating machine learning into drug development, specifically in the realm of biologics for immunology. The incorporation of a diverse team of drug developers and machine learning innovators has enabled Seismic to engineer novel biologics with drug-like properties through multi-parameter optimization.
The lead IgSc enzyme program at Seismic has resulted in the creation of a pan-IgG protease designed to address acute and chronic autoantibody-mediated diseases. The DcB antibody program optimizes the targeting of multiple cell types driving autoimmune disease pathogenesis, engaging T cells via PD-1 agonism and antigen-presenting cells via inhibitory Fc gamma receptor.
Jo Viney, PhD, Founder, President, and CEO of Seismic Therapeutic, expressed delight in securing the support of a robust investor syndicate. The financing positions Seismic to advance both lead programs into the clinic, pushing the boundaries of immunology drug development with the aid of machine learning. The company is committed to leveraging these advancements to enhance the lives of patients grappling with autoimmune diseases.
