Granite Bio, a Swiss company specialising in immunology, has secured $100m in funding as it emerges from stealth mode.
The financing includes a $30m Series A round, led by founding investors Versant Ventures and Novartis Venture Fund, and a $70m Series B round, led by Forbion and Sanofi Ventures.
Granite Bio’s research pipeline focuses on developing two innovative antibodies aimed at tackling various autoimmune disorders.
The first, GRT-001, targets pro-inflammatory monocytes, which play a significant role in autoimmunity and inflammation. Studies in non-human primates have shown that GRT-001 effectively reduces these monocytes in a dose-dependent manner, while preserving tissue-resident macrophages crucial for tissue balance.
Currently, GRT-001 is in Phase 1a trials involving healthy participants, with plans to initiate a Phase 1b trial for inflammatory bowel disease patients later in the year.
The second molecule, GRT-002, works by inhibiting interleukin-3, a key contributor to autoimmune and type II inflammation, potentially offering a new treatment approach for conditions like itch and allergy. GRT-002 is in preclinical development, with clinical trials projected to start in 2026.
Both antibodies were developed in collaboration with Versant’s Ridgeline Discovery Engine in Basel, Switzerland, originating from the research of Professor and Scientific Co-Founder Matthias Mack at the University of Regensburg.
Granite Bio president and CEO Patrick Loustau said: “Granite is pioneering a new approach to tackling inflammation, autoimmunity, and fibrosis by addressing fundamental disease drivers at their source.
“With the support of an exceptional investor syndicate and a world-class team, we are advancing a pipeline of first-in-class therapies with the potential to transform patient outcomes. I look forward to working with the management team to deliver groundbreaking treatments that address the urgent unmet needs in immunology and beyond.”
Granite Bio continues to develop first-in-class antibodies targeting the fundamental causes of inflammatory, autoimmune, and fibrotic conditions, supported by prominent healthcare venture firms such as Versant Ventures, Novartis Venture Fund, Forbion, and Sanofi Ventures.
