Pursuing tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), Turnstone Biologics Inc. raised about $80 million in an IPO, offering 6.7 million shares at $12 each. The firm is “pioneering a differentiated approach to TILs,” with next-generation products designed by choosing the most potent and tumor-reactive T cells, dubbed Selected TILs, according to SEC paperwork.
While med-tech financings in the second quarter (Q2) rose by 24% over the first quarter (Q1) – an historically low Q1 – the overall funding landscape in 2023 has struggled to keep up with other years, with IPOs in particular hitting rock bottom. A total of $5.8 billion was raised in Q2 through 128 transactions. Combined with Q1, the amount for the first half of 2023 is $10.5 billion through 255 transactions. This is an overall drop in value during the first six months of 31% compared with the same timeframe in 2022. It also is down from 2017 – the next lowest year – by 22%.
Neko Health AB reported it has secured $67 million in investment capital to develop its artificial intelligence (AI)-driven full body scanner beyond its home country, Sweden. This series A round was led by Berlin-based Lakestar Advisors GmbH, with participation from Atomico (UK) Partners LLP from London and General Catalyst Group Management LLC from Cambridge, Mass. “Our new concept in body digitization technology, capable of rapidly collecting large amounts of health data, will enable us to identify illness at an early stage and take preventive action,” Hjalmar Nilsonne, CEO and co-founder of Neko Health told BioWorld.
Neura Robotics GmbH closed a $55 million funding round that will allow the company to expand its operation into the U.S. and Japan and increase its production infrastructure in Germany amid growing demand. The company, which builds cognitive robots, has an order book which exceeds $450 million.
The picture keeps getting brighter for Argenx SE which, having targeted $750 million in a financing after positive phase II data, priced a global public offering of $1.1 billion, one of history’s larger rounds. Amsterdam-based Argenx capitalized on positive top-line data from the phase II Adhere study with Vyvgart Hytrulo (efgartigimod alfa plus hyaluronidase-qvfc) in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.