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§ Private Profile · San Diego, CA, USA
Receptos is a technology company.
Receptos developed G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) targeted therapies for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The company focused on creating small molecule drugs designed to precisely modulate specific GPCRs, addressing underlying disease mechanisms. Key pipeline assets included RPC1063, an oral therapy intended for relapsing multiple sclerosis, offering novel treatments for severe immunological conditions.
Founded in 2008 by Marcus Boehm and Robert Peach, Receptos arose from their insight into the therapeutic potential of G protein-coupled receptors. They aimed to leverage scientific expertise to develop novel compounds that could selectively modulate these critical cell surface receptors, creating targeted treatments for unmet needs in immunology.
Receptos' product candidates were designed for patients with chronic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, offering new oral treatment options. The company's vision centered on discovering, developing, and delivering innovative medicines to transform lives. Their objective involved bringing highly effective, targeted therapies to market, addressing critical unmet medical needs.
Receptos has raised $85.0M across 3 funding rounds.
Receptos has raised $85.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Receptos has raised $85.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Receptos's investors include ARCH Venture Partners, Aisling Capital, Venrock, Flagship Ventures, Lilly Ventures.
Receptos has raised $85.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $30.0M Series B in March 2013.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2013 | $30M Series B | — | ARCH Venture Partners | Announced |
| Mar 1, 2012 | $30M Series U | — | Aisling Capital, ARCH Venture Partners, Venrock | Announced |
| Nov 1, 2009 | $25M Series A | — | Aisling Capital, ARCH Venture Partners, Venrock, Flagship Ventures, Lilly Ventures | Announced |
Receptos was a biopharmaceutical company that developed therapeutic candidates targeting immune and inflammatory diseases, including Ozanimod for multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease, and RPC4046 for eosinophilic esophagitis.[1][2] It served patients with autoimmune conditions, metabolic disorders, and related ailments by addressing unmet needs in immunology through S1P receptor modulators and other agonists, achieving rapid growth from a 2009 startup to a $7.2–7.8 billion acquisition by Celgene in 2015.[2][4]
Founded with a focus on high-potential drug pipelines, Receptos demonstrated exceptional momentum: it secured $25 million in Series A financing in 2009, went public, and delivered blockbuster value in under seven years via its lead asset Ozanimod, which advanced to late-stage trials.[1][2][4]
Receptos emerged in 2008–2009 from a team of biotech veterans including founders Marcus F. Boehm, Robert J. Peach, William H. Rastetter, Hugh Rosen, and Raymond C. Stevens, initially based in San Diego, California.[1] The idea stemmed from expertise in G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), particularly sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) pathways, to pioneer oral therapies for hard-to-treat immune disorders where existing treatments fell short.[1][2]
Early traction came swiftly: a $25 million Series A round in November 2009 fueled pipeline advancement, followed by an IPO and leadership under President and CEO Faheem Hasnain, who joined post-2009 and steered it through pivotal milestones like clinical progress on Ozanimod.[2][4] Hasnain's prior success at Facet Biotech (acquired by Abbott in 2010) brought proven deal-making and team-building prowess, humanizing Receptos as a founder-driven biotech sprinting toward validation.[4]
Receptos rode the 2010s wave of immunology innovation, capitalizing on GPCR drugging advances amid surging demand for oral immunomodulators as biologics like TNF inhibitors hit efficacy plateaus.[1][2] Timing was ideal: post-2008 financial crisis venture capital sought high-upside biotechs, and Celgene's aggressive M&A in 2015 (pre-BMS merger) amplified acquisition premiums for validated assets like Ozanimod, which filled gaps in their multiple sclerosis portfolio.[2][4]
Market forces favored Receptos—rising autoimmune prevalence, payer pressure for cost-effective orals, and trial successes amid competitors' setbacks—positioning it as a trendsetter in S1P therapeutics, influencing successors like Bristol Myers Squibb's ongoing Ozanimod commercialization.[2] It exemplified how focused biotechs reshape pharma ecosystems by licensing or selling breakthroughs, accelerating industry innovation cycles.
Post-2015 Celgene acquisition (now under Bristol Myers Squibb), Receptos lives on through its integrated assets, with Ozanimod approved as Zeposia for MS and ulcerative colitis, driving sustained revenue. Next steps involve pipeline expansion into adjacent indications like Crohn's disease, leveraging BMS resources for global scaling.[1][2]
Shaping trends include precision immunology, AI-driven drug design, and combo therapies amid patent cliffs for legacy drugs; Receptos' legacy could evolve via BMS spin-offs or rival licensing, underscoring how nimble biotechs fuel pharma giants. From a San Diego garage to $7+ billion exit, it proves visionary science plus execution builds enduring impact in biotech.