Hillstar Bio closes $67 million Series A financing round

Hillstar Bio, a leading biotechnology company focused on developing next-generation precision immunology therapies for autoimmune diseases, today announced the successful closing of a $67 million Series A financing round. This funding was led by a syndicate of experienced investors and shareholders from the U.S., Europe, and Asia, including Droia Ventures, Frazier Life Sciences, Novo Holdings A/S, LifeArc Ventures, and Hummingbird Bioscience.

“Congratulations to US-based Hillstar Bio on closing a $67 million Series A financing round, which LifeArc Ventures supported alongside international investors including Droia Ventures, Frazier Life Sciences and Novo Holdings. We’re impressed by Hillstar Bio’s first-rate leadership and scientists, who are driving an innovative approach to treating autoimmune diseases, and we look forward to their lead programme moving into clinical trials next year with an initial focus on axial spondyloarthritis.”
Sohaib Mir, Partner, LifeArc Ventures.

Hillstar Bio is revolutionising autoimmune disease treatment through a precision-driven approach that selectively depletes pathogenic cells while preserving healthy ones. This method holds the promise of providing durable relief and improving patient outcomes compared to traditional immunosuppressive therapies. Additionally, the company’s versatile approach leverages tailored discovery techniques for each therapeutic, free from the constraints of traditional drug development platforms.

The new funding will propel Hillstar Bio’s lead program, which specifically targets TRBV9+ T cells, into clinical trials in 2026. Initially, the focus will be on treating axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) and potentially other immune and inflammatory conditions associated with HLA-B27. The investment will also support the expansion of Hillstar Bio’s portfolio, which includes a variety of precision immunology therapies aimed at specific immune cell subsets across a range of autoimmune diseases.

“The interplay between HLA-B27 and TRBV9+ T cells in autoimmune conditions like AxSpA offers a unique opportunity for our lead program,” said Robert Mabry, CEO of Hillstar Bio. “Our innovative approach aims to deliver longer-lasting, more effective results compared to current treatments, improving patient outcomes and potentially reducing the long-term need for immunosuppressive therapies.”

Hillstar Bio boasts a world-class team with deep expertise in antibody engineering, immunology, and clinical development. The company’s approach combines cutting-edge scientific knowledge with a robust, risk-mitigating strategy, leveraging validated technologies and disease-specific biomarkers to identify the patient populations most likely to benefit from their treatments.

“We are excited to collaborate with the Hillstar Bio team in bringing groundbreaking, precisiondriven immunotherapies to patients living with autoimmune diseases,” said Luc Dochez, Executive Chair at Hillstar Bio and Managing Partner at Droia Ventures. “Hillstar Bio has the critical elements necessary to transform autoimmune disease treatment, including top-tier antibody engineering capabilities, a deep understanding of immune cell biology, and an exceptional team of scientists, industry leaders, and advisors.”

The company’s leadership include:

Hillstar Bio Executive Team

Robert Mabry, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, previously Chief Scientific Officer at Orna Therapeutics and Global Head of Biologics at Takeda
Mitchell Keegan, Ph.D., Chief Development Officer, previously SVP of Clinical Development at Boston Pharmaceuticals and VP of Clinical Development at Verastem Oncology
Lauren Mifflin, Ph.D., MBA, Chief Operating Officer, Principal of Company Creation at Frazier Life Sciences, previously on the founding teams of multiple venture-backed biotechs, including Ypsilon Therapeutics, Nido Biosciences, and Entrada Therapeutics.

Board of Directors