Samsung Ventures invests in Araris Biotech

As part of its ongoing series A financing round, Araris Biotech has secured funding from the Samsung Life Science Fund, a joint initiative of Samsung Biologics and Samsung C&T. The fund is managed by Samsung Ventures and reflects Samsung’s commitment to further explore and expand various business opportunities in biopharmaceuticals.

Samsung’s investment in the startup is a commitment to further expanding its pipeline. As a strategic investor, Samsung will collaborate on evaluating, manufacturing and developing assets with Araris using the Company’s proprietary ADC Technology, in close collaboration with Samsung affiliates involved in discovering, developing, and manufacturing novel biologics.

“Araris has the potential to develop best-in-class ADC therapies, and we see room for collaboration in the manufacturing and development of new drugs,” said John Rim, CEO of Samsung Biologics.

Founded as a spin-off company from the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) and ETH Zurich, Araris Biotech is pioneering a proprietary antibody-drug conjugate (ADC)-linker technology. Its linker platform enables payload attachment to off-the-shelf antibodies without needing to re-engineer or reduce antibodies, resulting in highly homogenous, stable and potent ADC therapies in a cost and time-efficient manner. It also can potentially address challenges associated with ADCs, including solubility and unstable linkage issues.

“We’re pleased to receive this support from Samsung, as well as the recognition of the potential of our linker-payload toolbox and conjugation technology in such a quickly growing ADC field,” said Philipp Spycher, CEO and co-founder of Araris Biotech. “We look forward to using these proceeds to further support our efforts in advancing our ADC candidates toward the clinic.”

(Press release/RAN)