Bioniz Therapeutics is a technology company.
Bioniz Therapeutics has raised $13.6M across 2 funding rounds.
Bioniz Therapeutics has raised $13.6M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Bioniz Therapeutics has raised $13.6M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Bioniz Therapeutics's investors include Cota Capital, Deep Fork Capital, Founders Fund, RRE Ventures, SciFi VC, Josh Abramowitz.
Bioniz Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that developed a proprietary platform for discovering peptide-based multi-cytokine inhibitors targeting immuno-inflammatory diseases and cancer, with an initial focus on orphan indications like alopecia areata, celiac disease, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.[1][3][5] Its lead assets, including BNZ-1 (now EQ101, a tri-specific inhibitor of IL-2, IL-9, and IL-15) and BNZ-2 (now EQ102, a bi-specific inhibitor of IL-15 and IL-21), advanced into Phase 2 and first-in-human trials before the company was acquired by Equillium, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQ) in February 2022 for an undisclosed amount after raising $27.07M in funding.[1][3] Bioniz served patients with severe autoimmune and inflammatory disorders by addressing unmet needs through precise cytokine modulation, leveraging NIH-originated cytokine biology expertise; post-acquisition, its technologies bolster Equillium's pipeline, driving growth in immunomodulatory therapeutics.[1][3]
Bioniz Therapeutics emerged from seminal research in cytokine biology at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), translating academic discoveries into a proprietary structure-based peptide discovery platform.[1][3] Founded around 2015 (with one source noting 2009), the company was built by experts in cytokine pathways and computational modeling to develop in-house multi-specific inhibitors like BNZ-1 and BNZ-2.[1][2][3] Early traction included advancing BNZ-1 into late-stage clinical trials for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (Phase 2) and expanding leadership to support pipeline progress, culminating in Equillium's transformative 2022 acquisition that integrated Bioniz's assets into a broader immunology portfolio.[1][3][4][5]
Bioniz rode the wave of precision immunology, capitalizing on surging demand for targeted cytokine therapies amid rising autoimmune disease prevalence (e.g., alopecia areata, celiac disease) and oncology needs like cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.[1][3][5][6] Its timing aligned with biotech's shift toward multi-specific biologics and peptides, which offer better safety and efficacy profiles than broad immunosuppressants, fueled by advances in computational modeling and NIH-derived insights.[1][3] Market forces favoring orphan drugs—via regulatory incentives—and Equillium's acquisition amplified Bioniz's influence, enriching the ecosystem with novel assets that de-risk downstream development and enable partnerships, as seen in Equillium's Ono collaboration.[1][3]
Equillium continues advancing Bioniz's crown jewels—EQ101 in Phase 2 for alopecia areata and EQ102 toward celiac disease trials—positioning them for key readouts that could validate multi-cytokine inhibition.[1] Trends like AI-driven drug design and oral peptide breakthroughs will accelerate BNZ-3-like candidates, while expanding indications in inflammation and cancer sustain momentum.[1][3][5] Bioniz's legacy elevates Equillium's role in immunology, potentially evolving into a pipeline cornerstone for strategic deals or approvals, transforming niche orphan focus into broader therapeutic impact.[1][3]
Bioniz Therapeutics has raised $13.6M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $13.0M Series A in July 2016.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2016 | $13.0M Series A | Cota Capital, Deep Fork Capital, Founders Fund, RRE Ventures, SciFi VC, Josh Abramowitz | |
| Aug 1, 2013 | $600K Seed | Cota Capital, Deep Fork Capital, Founders Fund, RRE Ventures, SciFi VC, Josh Abramowitz |