Star Therapeutics is a technology company.
We transform the lives of patients with serious diseases by discovering and developing best-in-class antibody therapies.
Star Therapeutics has raised $220.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Star Therapeutics has raised $220.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Star Therapeutics has raised $220.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Star Therapeutics's investors include Foresite Capital, OrbiMed, Sanofi Ventures, Sofinnova Investments, Westlake Village BioPartners, Versant Ventures.
Star Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing best-in-class antibody therapies for rare diseases, particularly bleeding disorders like von Willebrand disease (VWD).[1][2][4][5] Its lead product, VGA039, is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody targeting Protein S to restore blood clotting balance, serving patients with VWD and other hemostatic disorders through a universal therapy approach; the company has initiated a pivotal Phase 3 trial with monthly subcutaneous dosing and reported positive interim Phase 1 data in December 2024.[1][5][6] Star's pipeline-in-a-product strategy identifies shared biology across multiple rare diseases to enable single therapies, addressing unmet needs for millions lacking effective treatments; backed by over $300 million in funding, it shows strong growth momentum with an oversubscribed $125 million Series D in early 2025.[3][5][6]
Founded in 2018 by Adam Rosenthal, Ph.D., in South San Francisco, California, Star Therapeutics emerged from stealth in February 2022 after raising over $100 million from investors like Westlake Village BioPartners, OrbiMed, and RA Capital.[1][3][5] Rosenthal, with deep expertise in antibody development—including inventing four first-in-class antibodies like the approved ENJAYMO for cold agglutinin disease—launched Star to tackle the 7,000 rare diseases with only ~650 FDA-approved drugs.[3][5] The idea stemmed from applying rare disease and antibody discovery expertise to target shared biology across diseases; early traction included spinning out Electra Therapeutics with a Phase 1 program, evolving into a focused hematology pipeline led by VGA039.[3]
Star rides the wave of precision antibody therapies in rare hematology, targeting VWD—a common inherited bleeding disorder affecting >50,000 U.S. patients—amid rising demand for hemostatic innovations beyond plasma-derived concentrates like Wilate or Voncento.[1][5][6] Timing aligns with post-pandemic biotech resurgence and investor appetite for de-risked clinical assets, as Phase 3 data could disrupt a market long dominated by legacy treatments from Shire and others.[1] Favorable forces include novel biology interrogation in underserved rare diseases and subcutaneous delivery advantages; Star influences the ecosystem by validating multi-disease antibody platforms, potentially inspiring similar "one-drug-many-indications" models in immunology.[2][3][4]
Star Therapeutics is poised for Phase 3 readout of VGA039 in VWD by late 2026-2027, with Series D funds extending runway for expansion into additional bleeding disorders and pipeline growth.[5][6] Trends like AI-driven biology discovery and hemostatic therapy demand will accelerate its path, potentially yielding a first universal clotting therapy and blockbuster status. Its influence may evolve from rare disease innovator to hematology leader, transforming patient lives through shared-biology breakthroughs that began with Rosenthal's vision of one therapy for many unmet needs.[3][5]
Star Therapeutics has raised $220.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $130.0M Series D in September 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2025 | $130.0M Series D | Foresite Capital, OrbiMed, Sanofi Ventures, Sofinnova Investments, Westlake Village BioPartners | |
| Sep 1, 2023 | $90.0M Series C | Foresite Capital, OrbiMed, Sanofi Ventures, Sofinnova Investments, Versant Ventures, Westlake Village BioPartners |