Cullinan Oncology LLC, which recently closed a $98.5m series B round, partnered with PDI Therapeutics Inc. to launch Cullinan MICA Inc. on 11 June with $26m in series A financing to advance CLN-619 – a monoclonal antibody designed to reinvigorate the MICA/NKG2D axis – into clinical testing. (Also see "Finance Watch: New Funding Available For Antibacterials, Start-Ups" - Scrip, 8 June, 2020.) CLN-619 may be able to activate both the innate and adaptive immune systems for the treatment of a broad range of cancers. It is designed to prevent cancer cells from shedding the MICA ligand, which is recognized by NKG2D receptors on natural killer cells and killer T-cells. Cullinan MICA operates from Cambridge, MA and San Diego. PDI Therapeutics came out of COI Pharmaceuticals, Avalon Ventures’ start-up incubator in San Diego. Cullinan Oncology, Avalon, Bregua Corp. and the Myeloma Investment Fund, a venture philanthropy fund of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, participated in the series A round for Cullinan MICA.

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