Led · Series C · Apr 2024

Endeavor BioMedicines is a San Diego–based clinical-stage biotechnology company developing medicines aimed at delivering transformational clinical benefits for patients with life-threatening diseases. Its lead candidate, ENV-101, is an inhibitor of the Hedgehog signaling pathway in development for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) and showed preliminary results in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2a trial. Endeavor says ENV-101 has the potential to improve lung function and reverse fibrotic processes; the company plans to initiate a Phase 2b trial in IPF and a parallel PPF cohort in 2024, with Phase 2a results to be presented at the ATS International Conference. Its second candidate, ENV-501, is a next-generation anti-HER3 antibody-drug conjugate engineered to minimize off-target toxicity and is planned to enter a Phase 1/2 trial in 2024. The company closed an oversubscribed $132.5 million Series C, including conversion of a $5 million convertible instrument, to advance clinical development of ENV-101 and ENV-501. Leadership states the financing and board support position the company to pursue key clinical milestones in 2024 and beyond. Endeavor BioMedicines is a clinical-stage biotechnology company targeting the core drivers of terminal diseases, including oncology and fibrosis. Its lead program, ENV-101 (taladegib), is an oral small-molecule inhibitor of the PTCH1 receptor in the Hedgehog signaling pathway and has shown clinical efficacy and safety in nearly 200 subjects across six completed studies. The company is pursuing precision, tumor-agnostic approaches for ENV-101 in cancers with oncogenic PTCH1 mutations (found in approximately 2% of cancers) and is enrolling a Phase 2 oncology trial (NCT05199584) as well as a Phase 2 study in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (NCT04968574). ENV-201 is an oral ULK1/2 inhibitor designed to block autophagy in KRAS- and STK11-mutated cancers; Endeavor plans to complete IND-enabling studies and advance the program into the clinic within the next year. The firm emphasizes genetically defined patient selection and combination strategies with chemo-, targeted-, and immuno-therapies to overcome resistance. Recently raised capital will be used to advance these pipeline programs toward clinical milestones. Endeavor BioMedicines is developing taladegib, an inhibitor targeting the hedgehog signaling pathway to treat pulmonary disease, specifically idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The company will use its Series A funding to support two Phase 2 clinical trials that will assess whether taladegib can reverse or slow IPF progression. IPF is characterized by lung tissue scarring and has an estimated mean survival of 2–5 years from diagnosis. Endeavor is led by co-founder and CEO John Hood and co-founder and chief science officer Miguel de los Rios. The startup emerged from stealth with a $62 million Series A raised from Omega Funds and Longitude Capital, plus participation from the company’s management team. CEO John Hood previously led Impact Biomedicines, which was acquired by Celgene for up to $7 billion.