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§ Private Profile · London, United Kingdom
Biotech company developing targeted monoclonal antibodies for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, including lupus and fibrosis.
Capella BioScience is a London-based virtual biotechnology company that develops targeted monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The organization focuses on preclinical and clinical research, advancing programs such as CBS001 for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and CBS004 for lupus and systemic sclerosis. Operating with a highly lean structure of just one full-time employee, the firm relies on partnerships with contract research organizations and academic institutions across the United States and the United Kingdom. The enterprise raised $15.7 million in Series A funding, which was backed by life sciences investors including Advent Life Sciences, Medicxi Ventures, and Osage University Partners. In February 2021, the business was acquired and merged into Centessa Pharmaceuticals alongside nine other asset-centric biotech companies. Capella BioScience was founded in 2013 by the United Kingdom-based venture capital firm Medicxi.
Capella BioScience has raised $16.0M across 1 funding round.
Capella BioScience has raised $16.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Capella BioScience has raised $16.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $16.0M Series A in March 2016.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2016 | $16M Series A | Osage University Partners, Advent Life Sciences, Medicxi | Sofinnova Investments | Announced |
Capella BioScience has raised $16.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Capella BioScience's investors include Osage University Partners, Advent Life Sciences, Medicxi, Sofinnova Investments.
Capella BioScience was a private biotechnology company founded in 2014, focused on developing novel medicines using innovative technologies based on monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting oncology and autoimmune diseases.[1][3] It advanced two key programs: CBS001, a neutralizing therapeutic mAb against the inflammatory membrane form of LIGHT (TNFSF14) for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and CBS004, a therapeutic mAb against blood dendritic cell antigen 2 (BDCA2) for lupus erythematosus (systemic and cutaneous) and systemic sclerosis.[2][3] The company raised approximately $15.5–17.83 million in Series A funding and served patients with unmet needs in fibrosis and autoimmune disorders by addressing specific inflammatory pathways, but its programs were integrated into Centessa Pharmaceuticals via a 2021 merger of 10 biotech firms, after which Capella was dissolved on December 17, 2024.[2][3][5]
Capella BioScience was incorporated on November 7, 2014, in the UK, with its headquarters initially in Greater London (160 N Gower St) and later registered in Altrincham, Cheshire.[1][5] Led by CEO Steve Holmes, who also served as Chief Operating Officer, the company emerged from Advent Life Sciences' portfolio, emphasizing structure-based drug discovery for mAbs in oncology and autoimmune areas.[1][2] A pivotal moment came in February 2021 when Capella merged into Centessa Pharmaceuticals, a novel asset-centric platform combining 10 validated biotech programs under centralized resources to streamline R&D; this integration preserved Capella's pipeline while ending its standalone operations.[2][3]
Capella rode the wave of antibody engineering and asset-centric biotech models, capitalizing on advances in structure-based design to tackle immune-mediated diseases like fibrosis and lupus amid rising autoimmune prevalence.[1][3] Timing aligned with the 2020s surge in mAb therapies (e.g., for oncology/autoimmunity), fueled by market forces like aging populations and post-COVID inflammation research, which favored validated pipelines.[2][6] By merging into Centessa, it influenced the ecosystem shift toward consolidated "company-within-a-company" structures, reducing R&D risks and accelerating programs from preclinical to clinic, as seen in CBS001's Phase 1 start in 2022.[2][3][6]
Capella's legacy endures through Centessa, where its mAb programs could progress toward approvals if clinical data validates targets like LIGHT and BDCA2 amid growing demand for precision immunology therapies.[2][3][6] Trends like AI-driven antibody design and combo therapies will shape successors, potentially expanding these assets into broader inflammatory indications. Its influence evolves from standalone innovator to foundational piece in scalable biopharma, underscoring how targeted mergers amplify biotech impact—echoing its original mission to deliver next-gen medicines.[3]