Callio Therapeutics, a biotechnology company, has launched with a $187 million Series A funding round to develop multi-payload antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for cancer treatment. Frazier Life Sciences led the financing with participation from Jeito Capital and other investors. Callio will use the funds to advance its HER2-targeted dual-payload ADC and a second undisclosed program toward clinical proof-of-concept. Headquartered in Seattle and Singapore, Callio secured an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Hummingbird Bioscience. This deal grants Callio access to Hummingbird’s ADC platform, intellectual property, and pipeline assets in exchange for equity, milestone payments, and royalties. Furthermore, this partnership strengthens Callio’s ability to develop next-generation ADCs with improved therapeutic potential. Callio’s leadership team includes biotechnology veterans from ProfoundBio, SeaGen, Medarex, and Genentech.
Additionally, Callio aims to address the limitations of traditional ADCs and provide a more effective solution for difficult-to-treat cancers. Executive Board Chair and Venture Partner at Frazier Life Sciences, Adam Simpson, emphasized Callio’s potential to transform cancer treatment. He noted that Callio, with its experienced team and innovative ADC technology, will demonstrate the clinical benefit of this approach and drive the next wave of ADC innovation. Callio focuses on developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) using innovative payload and linker technologies to improve cancer therapy. These technologies are designed to enhance the precision with which therapeutic agents are delivered to tumor cells, potentially improving treatment outcomes. With strong financial support and access to advanced technologies, Callio is positioning itself to contribute significantly to cancer therapy.
