Tasca Therapeutics Launches with $52 Million to Advance Precision Oncology

Tasca Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on small molecule inhibitors for oncology, has raised $52 million in Series A financing. The round was co-led by Regeneron Ventures and Cure Ventures, with participation from Invus Group. The funds will support the progression of the company’s lead candidate, CP-383, into Phase 1/2 clinical studies and expand its pipeline of drug discovery programs.

Tasca’s research targets auto-palmitoylation, a specific post-translational modification on proteins. Using mass spectrometry-based proteomics, the company identifies lipid-binding pockets formed by this modification, which can serve as potential targets for small molecule inhibitors. These pockets represent an opportunity to develop therapies for cancers with limited treatment options.

The lead drug candidate, CP-383, has demonstrated activity in preclinical studies across multiple cancer types, including small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, head and neck cancer, and brain cancer. Tasca aims to begin clinical trials for CP-383 in 2025.

Tasca Leadership (from left to right): David Fisher, M.D., Ph.D., Scientific Co-founder, Milenko Cicmil, Ph.D., Co-founder and CEO, Xu Wu, Ph.D., Co-founder and Director. Credit: Rick Bern Photography

Dr. Praveen Tipirneni, Chairman of the Board:

“I was immediately impressed by Tasca’s in vivo data and the potential of its platform. Combined with the strong leadership provided by Milenko Cicmil and the support from Regeneron Ventures and Cure Ventures, Tasca is well-positioned to address significant challenges in oncology drug discovery. I look forward to contributing my experience to this effort.”

Milenko Cicmil, Co-Founder and CEO:

“We are excited to advance our lead program, CP-383, into clinical studies and to expand our pipeline. The Series A funding allows us to build on the innovative work of our scientific co-founders and move closer to delivering treatments for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers.”

Dave Fallace, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Cure Ventures:

“Tasca’s approach to targeting previously undruggable sites represents a significant step forward in oncology drug discovery. The ability to leverage auto-palmitoylation as a mechanism for therapeutic intervention differentiates Tasca from others in the space. We are proud to support their platform and programs.”

Pipeline and Research

Tasca’s pipeline includes:

• CP-383: A first-in-class small molecule inhibitor targeting auto-palmitoylated proteins, advancing to Phase 1/2 clinical trials.
• Additional Discovery Programs: Early-stage initiatives exploring new targets in oncology.

Based in Boston, Tasca Therapeutics is focused on the discovery and development of small molecule inhibitors targeting auto-palmitoylation. The company’s proprietary platform uses proteomics to identify novel druggable sites for precision oncology therapies.

Topics: Startups & Deals