Alpine Immune Sciences focuses on developing novel protein-based immunotherapies built on its proprietary vIgD™ platform, which is designed to interact with multiple immune targets simultaneously at the immune synapse. The company uses directed evolution of naturally occurring ligands to create vIgD™ molecules that can either enhance or diminish immune responses, making the technology applicable to both cancer and autoimmune indications. AIS has also developed transmembrane immunomodulatory protein (TIP™) technology, derived from the vIgD™ platform, for use with engineered cellular therapies to potentially improve efficacy and persistence. In October 2015 AIS signed a worldwide research and license agreement with Kite Pharma worth up to $530 million granting Kite access to certain targets developed using the TIP™ platform. AIS was founded in 2015 and was seed funded by Alpine BioVentures. The company recently completed a $48 million Series A to support continued discovery and development of its immunotherapy programs. Alpine Immune Sciences is a stealth immunotherapy company pursuing a recombinant protein–based therapeutic platform that the founders say is unrelated to Dendreon’s Provenge. The company was seeded with about $1.3 million provided through Mitchell Gold’s investment firm, Alpine BioVentures. SEC filings list former Amgen scientists Michael Kornacker and Ryan Swanson as participants; both appear to have left their Amgen positions in December. Kornacker’s background is in antibody protein engineering, while Swanson’s work focuses on inflammation and T‑cell stimulation. David Miller, who also heads Alpine BioVentures, is listed as running Alpine Immune Sciences and works as a portfolio manager. The team is keeping product and operational details confidential while the startup remains in stealth.

Total raised

$49M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series A

Latest activity

Jun 2016