Novacea Secures $35 Million in Funding for Cancer Drugs

Novacea Inc., a developer of cancer drugs, has secured a significant $35 million investment from Apax Partners, a leading private equity firm, to continue the development of its cancer treatment products. This latest funding round brings the company's total equity investment to $83 million, allowing Novacea to advance its clinical trials and explore new opportunities in the cancer treatment market. The investment is a testament to the company's early success and the potential of its innovative treatments.

Key Takeaways:

  • Novacea has secured a $35 million investment from Apax Partners, led by Apax partner Eliot Charles, to support the development of its cancer treatment products.
  • The funding brings the company's total equity investment to $83 million and allows Novacea to advance its clinical trials and explore new opportunities in the cancer treatment market.
  • The company will use the new funding to complete clinical trials of its prostate cancer drug, DN-101, and to advance early trials of a new class of anti-tumor drug, AQ4N.
  • DN-101, a new formulation of Calcitriol, has shown promising results in treating prostate cancer and could have a broader market application.
  • AQ4N, licensed from KuDOS Pharmaceuticals Ltd., represents a new approach to cancer treatment and is currently being tested in lung cancer trials.
  • Novacea's CEO, Brad Goodwin, expects the new funding to enable the company to more aggressively pursue licenses for cancer treatment compounds and to accelerate its development timeline.

Statistics:

  • The new funding round brings Novacea's total equity investment to $83 million.
  • The company's prostate cancer drug, DN-101, has shown promising results in treating prostate cancer and could have a broader market application.
  • DN-101 is being tested in combination with Aventis' Taxotere product, which accounts for approximately $1.4 billion in annual sales.
  • AQ4N, the company's second product, is currently being tested in lung cancer trials and represents a new approach to cancer treatment.

Sources:

  • "Novacea Secures $35 Million in Funding for Cancer Drugs." TheDeal.com.
  • Interview with Brad Goodwin, CEO, Novacea Inc.
  • "Apax Partners Invests $35 Million in Novacea, Inc." Apax Partners.