EpiBiologics secures $107 million to advance its cancer therapy targeting protein degradation

EpiBiologics Secures $107 Million to Advance Cancer Therapy Research

EpiBiologics, a biotech company focused on developing innovative protein-degrading therapies for cancer and immune-related conditions, has successfully raised $107 million in new funding. This investment will help propel its leading drug candidate into clinical trials.

The company is pioneering a class of medicines known as "EpiTACs." These drugs are engineered to eliminate disease-causing proteins located on the surface of cells. By attaching a signaling molecule to these proteins, EpiTACs mark them for removal and direct them to the cell's lysosome for breakdown. This approach is part of the rapidly growing field of targeted protein degradation.

EpiBiologics' main investigational therapy, EPI-326, is a bispecific antibody designed to target and degrade cancer-associated forms of EGFR—a protein commonly found on the surface of cancer cells and the focus of many existing cancer treatments. According to Chief Scientific Officer Shyra Gardai, EPI-326 is engineered to selectively break down EGFR in tumors while leaving healthy cells unharmed, which may result in a favorable safety profile.

The initial clinical trials for EPI-326 will focus on patients with non-small cell lung cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, particularly those whose disease has returned or failed to respond to standard therapies. Human studies are expected to begin in the first half of 2026.

Gardai also noted that EPI-326’s targeted action could make it an ideal partner for combination therapies, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors. While resistance to these drugs can develop, combining them with EPI-326 may enhance the overall effectiveness by promoting widespread protein degradation in cancer cells throughout the body.

Beyond EPI-326, EpiBiologics is expanding its pipeline with additional protein-degrading medicines. The company is also developing therapies that merge a degrader with an antibody-drug conjugate, another promising targeted treatment strategy. CEO Ann Lee-Karlon shared that details about a second program will be announced later this year.

Lee-Karlon emphasized the importance of using multiple, complementary treatment approaches to tackle the complexity and adaptability of cancer, stating, “It’s now well recognized that combining different strategies is crucial for addressing various cancer types, especially as tumors can change and evolve in response to therapy.”

The Series B funding round was jointly led by GV and Johnson & Johnson’s venture capital division, with participation from ten additional investors, including Novartis Venture Fund, Samsara BioCapital, and Polaris Partners.

Founded in 2021 based on research from University of California San Francisco professor Jim Wells, EpiBiologics previously raised $50 million in a Series A round in 2023.