Ambit Biosciences is a technology company.
Ambit Biosciences has raised $129.0M across 3 funding rounds.
Ambit Biosciences has raised $129.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Ambit Biosciences has raised $129.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Ambit Biosciences's investors include BDC Venture Capital, OrbiMed.
Ambit Biosciences Corporation was a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery, development, and commercialization of small molecule kinase inhibitors for oncology, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases.[1][2][3] Its lead product, quizartinib (AC220), an oral FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) inhibitor, advanced to Phase II trials for relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and was developed in partnership with Astellas Pharma.[1][2][4] The company served patients with hard-to-treat cancers and other diseases, addressing unmet needs in targeted therapies by inhibiting kinases—enzymes driving abnormal cell growth.[2][3] Other candidates included AC410 (JAK2 inhibitor in Phase I) and AC708 (preclinical receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor).[1] Ambit went public in 2013 but was acquired by Daiichi Sankyo in November 2014, ceasing independent operations.[1][3]
Founded in 2000 in San Diego, California, as Aventa Biosciences Corporation, Ambit rebranded in November 2001 to focus on kinase inhibitor therapeutics.[1][3] The company emerged from expertise in drug discovery for aggressive cancers, building a pipeline through proprietary research and collaborations like those with Astellas Pharma (for FLT3 inhibitors), Cephalon (for BRAF kinase targets), and Genoptix (for diagnostics).[1][4] Key early traction came from raising $30 million in a 2010 Series D-2 round led by Apposite Capital, with investors including OrbiMed Advisors, Roche Venture Fund, and Foresite Capital.[3][4] It filed for an IPO in early 2013, listing on NASDAQ as "AMBI" in May, before its 2014 acquisition driven by quizartinib's promise.[2][3]
Ambit rode the early 2010s wave of precision oncology, emphasizing kinase inhibitors amid rising demand for targeted therapies post-genomic advances like FLT3 mutation identification in AML.[1][2][3] Timing aligned with biotech IPO booms and big pharma's push for oncology assets, as seen in its 2013 public listing and 2014 acquisition by Daiichi Sankyo.[3] Market forces favoring partnerships and M&A for late-stage assets propelled its growth, influencing the ecosystem by validating kinase platforms—quizartinib's progress advanced AML treatments and inspired similar inhibitor pursuits.[1][4] As a Daiichi subsidiary, its tech bolstered Japan's pharma expansion into U.S. biopharma.[1][3]
Post-2014 acquisition, Ambit operates as a Daiichi Sankyo subsidiary, with quizartinib continuing development—now FDA-approved as Elzaprid for FLT3-mutated AML, tying back to its core mission of kinase-driven oncology breakthroughs.[1] Next steps likely involve expanding indications for quizartinib and pipeline assets into combination therapies amid immuno-oncology trends. Evolving kinase selectivity and AI-aided discovery will shape its legacy, amplifying Daiichi's influence in precision medicine while underscoring biotech's path from startup to integrated powerhouse.[3][4]
Ambit Biosciences has raised $129.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $50.0M Venture Round in November 2012.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2012 | $50.0M Venture Round | BDC Venture Capital, OrbiMed | |
| Jun 1, 2011 | $30.0M Series D | BDC Venture Capital, OrbiMed | |
| Nov 1, 2007 | $49.0M Series D | OrbiMed |