ST. LOUIS – July 23, 2015 – BioGenerator
focuses their drug discovery efforts on the kinase family of enzymes that regulate key processes involved in cancer growth, survival and metastasis, and in diseases of chronic inflammation and autoimmunity. The company utilizes a detailed structural and functional understanding of kinase enzymes and its proprietary KINect Technology Platform to design unique molecules in a fraction of the time and cost compared to traditional approaches.
“Confluence is led by top drug hunters and former senior staff from Pfizer’s immunology team, and they’re working with world-class research and medical advisors at Washington University and other institutions,” said Charlie Bolten, vice president of BioGenerator. “They’ve built a high-caliber team and have made great progress in applying the KINect Technology platform to create valuable new drug candidates for oncology, immunotherapy, and chronic inflammation.”
Confluence launched with pre-seed investment from BioGenerator and has since grown to more than 30 employees. The company is located at the BioGenerator Labs in the CORTEX Innovation Community.
Other investors in this $2.4M round of funding include Mercury Fund, Epidarex Capital, Missouri Technology Corporation, the St. Louis Arch Angels and other private investors. The investment will enable Confluence to continue to advance their lead compounds into clinical studies.
“Certain cancers and immunological diseases are characterized by high unmet medical need and therefore strong investor and acquirer interest” said Eric Gulve, president of BioGenerator. “St. Louis is very strong in regards to the talent needed to build successful therapeutics companies and Confluence is a great example of that.”
BioGenerator’s portfolio includes several promising therapeutics companies, including Antegrin, Euclises, Generico, Immunophotonics, Mobius and Vasculox.
About BioGenerator
BioGenerator produces a sustained pipeline of successful bioscience companies and entrepreneurs in St. Louis by creating, growing and investing in promising new enterprises. BioGenerator is a nonprofit subsidiary of BioSTL, which advances St. Louis’ prosperity by cultivating a thriving bioscience sector, building regional capacity to capitalize on St. Louis’ world class medical and plant biosciences. Please visit www.BioGenerator.org for additional information. Follow BioGenerator on Twitter @BioGeneratorSTL.
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