Shanghai-based biotech startup Excalipoint secured $68.7 million in Series A funding to develop T cell engager therapies. The company was founded by former I-Mab Biopharma executives Lei Fang and Jielun Zhu, who conceived the venture during a hot pot dinner in Shanghai in fall 2024.
T cell engagers represent a promising class of cancer immunotherapies that redirect the body's T cells to attack tumor cells. The field has gained significant momentum as pharmaceutical companies seek alternatives to traditional cancer treatments, with several major players investing heavily in this therapeutic approach.
The $68.7 million funding round positions Excalipoint to advance its T cell engager pipeline through preclinical and early clinical development stages. The substantial Series A investment reflects growing investor confidence in both the T cell engager space and the founding team's previous experience at I-Mab.
Excalipoint joins a competitive landscape of biotechnology companies developing T cell engager platforms, as the founders leverage their pharmaceutical industry experience to build a new venture. The company will likely face the typical challenges of early-stage drug development, including regulatory approval processes and the need for additional funding as programs advance.