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§ Private Profile · South San Francisco, CA, USA
True North Therapeutics is a technology company.
True North Therapeutics was a biotechnology company that developed novel antibody therapeutics to selectively inhibit the classical pathway of the complement system. Its core product, TNT009, was a monoclonal antibody designed to block C1s, a key component in the complement cascade, to treat complement-mediated rare diseases. The company focused on advancing a pipeline of these therapies for conditions with significant unmet clinical needs.
The company was founded in 2013, emerging as a spinout from iPierian. Nancy Stagliano served as the chief executive officer and co-founder, bringing prior experience from her leadership role at iPierian. The foundational insight behind True North Therapeutics was the recognition that precise targeting of the classical complement pathway could unlock new therapeutic avenues for various rare diseases.
True North's therapies were aimed at patients suffering from rare conditions like cold agglutinin disease and certain types of kidney transplant rejection, where approved treatments were lacking or inadequate. The company’s vision centered on becoming a leader in addressing these challenging medical areas by providing targeted and effective treatment options.
True North Therapeutics has raised $142.0M across 4 funding rounds.
True North Therapeutics has raised $142.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
True North Therapeutics has raised $142.0M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $45.0M Series D in October 2016.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 2016 | $45M Series D | Andreas Wicki, Michael LEE | Franklin Templeton, Perceptive Advisors | Announced |
| Dec 1, 2015 | $40M Series C | Isaac Manke | Acorn Bioventures, Baxalta Ventures, Cowen Private Investments, Kleiner Perkins, MPM Capital, OrbiMed, Perceptive Advisors, SR ONE | Announced |
| Apr 7, 2015 | $35M Series B | Carl Gordon | Baxter Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, MPM Capital, SR ONE | Announced |
| Jun 17, 2014 | $22M Series A | — | Geeta Vemuri, Biogen Idec NEW Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, MPM Capital, SR ONE | Announced |
True North Therapeutics was a clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2013, focused on developing novel monoclonal antibodies that selectively inhibit the complement system—a key part of the immune response linked to inflammation in rare diseases.[1][2][4] Its lead product, TNT009 (later known as Enjaymo), targeted the classical complement pathway by inhibiting C1s to treat unmet needs in hematologic disorders like cold agglutinin disease, kidney transplant rejection, and other rare conditions with few treatment options.[1][3][5] The company served patients with complement-mediated rare diseases, addressing inflammation-driven pathologies where no approved therapies existed, and demonstrated early clinical momentum with Phase Ia trials starting in 2015.[1]
True North emerged as a spinout from iPierian, advancing from neurodegenerative research to immunology, but was acquired by Bioverativ in 2017, leading to its drug's commercialization under new ownership.[1][3][4]
True North Therapeutics originated as a 2013 spinout from iPierian, a biotech firm using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for neurodegenerative disease modeling.[1] iPierian’s lead Tau antibody program for progressive supranuclear palsy and Alzheimer’s was acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb for $725 million in April 2014, prompting the spinout of its immune-focused complement programs into True North.[1][3] Headquartered in South San Francisco, the company was led by CEO Nancy Stagliano, who highlighted its pioneering selective targeting of the classical complement pathway for rare diseases.[1]
Early traction centered on TNT009, with a Phase Ia study launched in Q2 2015 and Phase IIb planned by year-end, positioning it as a first-in-class therapy for cold agglutinin disease and antibody-mediated kidney rejection.[1]
True North rode the early 2010s wave of precision immunology, targeting the complement cascade amid rising interest in rare disease therapies post-orphan drug incentives.[1][2] Its timing capitalized on iPierian’s BMS acquisition, enabling quick spinout and clinical proof-of-concept during a biotech M&A boom for complement assets.[1][3] Market forces like unmet needs in hematology and transplant rejection favored its selective approach, influencing the ecosystem by validating C1s as a target—paving the way for Enjaymo’s approval and sales under Bioverativ (later Sanofi), which sold it to Recordati for $825 million in 2024.[3]
The company exemplified biotech's "acqui-hire" model, accelerating innovation through big pharma integration and boosting investor confidence in complement-focused startups.[3][4]
True North's legacy endures through Enjaymo, now under Recordati, with strong sales momentum signaling sustained demand for complement inhibitors in rare diseases.[3] Upcoming trends like expanded complement pathway research and AI-driven drug discovery could spawn similar selective therapies, evolving its influence toward next-gen immunology platforms. As biotech consolidation continues, True North's swift journey from spinout to blockbuster asset underscores the value of niche innovation in high-unmet-need spaces, reinforcing its foundational impact on modern rare disease treatment.
True North Therapeutics has raised $142.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
True North Therapeutics's investors include Andreas Wicki, Michael Lee, Franklin Templeton, Perceptive Advisors, Isaac Manke, Acorn Bioventures, Baxalta Ventures, Cowen Private Investments, Kleiner Perkins, MPM Capital, OrbiMed, SR One.