• Sonoma BioTherapeutics

  Participated · Series A · Feb 2020

  Sonoma Biotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech focused on engineered regulatory T cell (Treg) therapies to restore immune balance in serious autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The company employs proprietary platform technologies and approaches to develop a new generation of targeted and durable gene-modified Treg cell therapies. Led by CEO Jeff Bluestone, Sonoma Bio operates out of San Francisco, CA and Seattle, WA. In March 2023 the company entered a collaboration and license agreement with Regeneron to research, develop and commercialize Treg therapies for inflammatory bowel disease and two other undisclosed indications, with a Regeneron option for a fifth indication. The collaboration integrates Regeneron’s VelociSuite technologies for discovery and characterization of fully human antibodies and T cell receptors with Sonoma Bio’s development and manufacturing approach. Sonoma plans to use the newly received funds to expand operations and its R&D sector. Sonoma Biotherapeutics pioneers adoptive regulatory T cell (Treg) therapies and a complementary Teff conditioning biologic to promote immune tolerance in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Its platform uses genome editing and target‑specific cell therapy to develop disease‑modifying, potentially curative medicines. The company’s two most advanced programs are SBT-77-7101, a CAR‑based Treg therapy for refractory rheumatoid arthritis, and SBT-11-5301, a Teff conditioning biologic being investigated as monotherapy for Type 1 diabetes and as a conditioning agent to enhance Treg efficacy. Sonoma plans to advance these programs into the clinic and to continue discovery work on additional Treg programs. Proceeds from the recent financing will also be used to scale manufacturing capacity to support initial clinical studies. The company was founded by leaders in Treg biology and cell therapy and combines genetic engineering, development, and manufacturing capabilities to translate its approach into clinical trials. Sonoma Biotherapeutics is developing adoptive regulatory T-cell (Treg) therapies using next-generation genome editing and target-specific cell therapy to treat autoimmune and degenerative diseases. The company aims to move cell therapy beyond cancer into indications including rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS and Alzheimer’s. Sonoma recently expanded its Series A to $70 million to advance its pipeline and platform capabilities. The financing and new hires are intended to support research, development and manufacturing of next-generation Treg therapeutics. Leadership additions include a new chief medical officer and vice presidents for portfolio/program/alliance management and discovery. Sonoma is based in South San Francisco and Seattle and was founded by pioneers in Treg biology and cell therapy. Sonoma Biotherapeutics is developing engineered regulatory T cell (Treg) therapies aimed at restoring self-tolerance and halting harmful inflammatory responses in autoimmune and degenerative diseases. Its programs target conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS and Alzheimer’s. The company combines research, development and manufacturing capabilities in cell therapy and genetic engineering to advance Treg candidates from target identification through preclinical and clinical development. Sonoma emphasizes engineering Tregs to target disease-causing antigens to reduce systemic effects and improve tissue-specific control of inflammation. The team includes founder and CEO Jeffrey Bluestone, PhD, and three other founding Treg field scientists, as well as executives and board members with deep cell therapy experience. Sonoma operates out of South San Francisco, CA and Seattle, WA.

No current team members are available.