CAMBRIDGE, MA--(Marketwired - Jul 10, 2014) - Sialix, Inc., a biotechnology company developing cancer immunotherapies, today announced that the company has changed its name to Siamab Therapeutics. In addition, the company announced that it has received an additional $2 million in funding as part of its Series B, bringing the total raised to $6 million.
"As we move forward with our focus on developing antibodies for the treatment of cancer, while staying true to our roots in glycobiology, we have chosen the name Siamab Therapeutics, Inc.," said Jeff Behrens, Sialix's CEO. "Our technology platform has identified a panel of highly specific antibodies shown to significantly inhibit the growth of tumors in in vivo studies. Siamab's lead program is currently in preclinical studies for the treatment of solid tumors."
The investors in the additional round of funding include members of the following New England-based angel investor groups: Boston Harbor Angels, Mass Medic Angels, Launchpad Angels, Maine Angels, Beacon Angels and Desert Angels (Tuscon, AZ) as well as other undisclosed individuals.
Siamab is developing therapies targeting abnormal carbohydrates present only on cancer cells. These tumor associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs) are common in the majority of solid tumors, and represent an entire class of cancer-specific cell surface molecules suitable for targeting with antibody therapeutics. Previously, generating antibodies with high affinity and specificity to carbohydrate antigens was challenging, and binding specificity was difficult to assay. Siamab has developed a patented set of technologies to identify and precisely assay anti-TACA antibodies -- enabling rapid discovery and screening of candidate antibodies as well as characterization of binding epitopes. Siamab's platform is up and running today, and has enabled the discovery and characterization of a panel of anti-TACA therapeutic antibodies for Siamab's first development program ST1.
About Siamab Therapeutics
Siamab Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel cancer immunotherapies. Siamab has developed a platform of technologies that enable the rapid discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies that bind to a novel class of carbohydrate antigens present on cancer cells. The company's lead program is in preclinical studies for the treatment of solid tumors. Sialix's corporate headquarters are in Cambridge, MA and laboratory facilities are in San Diego, CA. Learn more at www.siamab.com.