UPMC Enterprises joined a Series A funding round of $56 million for Werewolf Therapeutics. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based oncology biotherapeutics company is developing novel immuno-stimulatory therapeutics designed to act selectively within the tumor microenvironment to enhance the body’s immune response to cancer.
The Series A financing was led by MPM Capital and Longwood Fund, both based in Massachusetts. In addition to UPMC, Taiho Ventures, Arkin Bio Ventures and DC Investment Partners joined the round. The company also named founder and biotech entrepreneur Daniel J. Hicklin, Ph.D ., as president and CEO.
Werewolf Therapeutics was founded through an initial investment by MPM Capital. The Series A financing will enable Werewolf to invest in research, talent acquisition and advancement of its platform and therapeutic programs to early clinical development. Werewolf’s initial areas of drug development focus on INDUKINESTM, conditionally activated cytokines that are designed to safely and effectively deliver potent antitumor immunity.