Caldera Therapeutics raises USD112.5M to advance novel IBD treatments

USA—Caldera Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in the United States, has officially launched, with a total of USD112.5 million in capital raised.

The company is developing CLD-423, a first-in-class bispecific antibody designed to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other immunologic and inflammatory conditions.

The milestone announcement also revealed that the first participants have received doses in the Phase 1 clinical trial of CLD-423, marking a significant step forward in the company’s development timeline.

The funding came through two rounds of investment, demonstrating strong confidence from the venture capital community.

Initially, Caldera secured USD 75 million through a Series A financing round led by Atlas Venture, LAV, and venBio.

The company then raised an additional USD 37.5 million in a Series A-1 round, with Omega Funds taking the lead.

This subsequent round attracted participation from new investors Wellington Management and Janus Henderson Investors, further strengthening Caldera’s financial position as it advances its clinical programs.

The company’s lead candidate, CLD-423, represents an innovative approach to treating autoimmune diseases.

This bispecific antibody simultaneously targets two clinically validated pathways: IL-23p19 and TL1A.

The Phase 1 trial currently underway involves healthy volunteers and will provide crucial safety and pharmacokinetic data as the company prepares to evaluate the therapy in patients with IBD.

Dr. Praveen Tipirneni, who serves as Caldera’s Chief Executive Officer and previously led Morphic Therapeutic, expressed enthusiasm about the therapeutic potential of CLD-423.

He emphasized that the molecule elegantly combines two powerful autoimmune targets within a single antibody, positioning it as the next frontier in IBD treatment.

Dr. Tipirneni believes that bispecific antibodies have the capability to establish new standards for efficacy in IBD treatment.

He explained that CLD-423 has been rationally designed to achieve a best-in-disease profile, with careful optimization of efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, and developability characteristics.

The company aims to move CLD-423 through Phase 1 development efficiently to enable clinical evaluation in patients suffering from IBD.

Michelle Doig, a Partner at Omega Funds, shared the investor perspective on Caldera’s potential. She views CLD-423 as a program capable of transforming the IBD treatment paradigm.

Doig highlighted that Caldera’s scientific strategy, execution-focused approach, and experienced leadership team set the company apart in the competitive landscape.

She noted that these qualities position CLD-423 as a potential new standard of care for patients with IBD.

Doig expressed excitement about leading the financing round and partnering with Dr. Tipirneni alongside a top-tier syndicate of investors to unlock both clinical and commercial value.

Caldera was established in 2025 with a specific mission to advance innovative biologic therapies for IBD.

The company has assembled a senior leadership team that brings extensive experience in discovering and developing IBD therapeutics, along with a demonstrated track record of successfully building biotechnology companies through to successful exits.

The company obtained exclusive global development and commercialization rights to CLD-423 through an in-licensing agreement with Qyuns Therapeutics Co., Ltd.

This partnership followed a comprehensive evaluation of the evolving landscape of bispecific antibodies in IBD treatment, ensuring that Caldera selected a candidate with strong differentiation potential in a rapidly advancing field.