At the heart of our health assurance mission lies a steadfast commitment to revolutionizing patient care by investing in life sciences. We’re proud to lead Maxion Therapeutics’ $72M Series A–an investment that significantly advances the potential for treating diseases in which targeting ion channels and G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) with biologics has previously been impossible. 

We’re excited to welcome Maxion’s team to the GC Famiglia. The team, led by Dr. Arndt Schottelius (CEO), a seasoned drug developer with a proven track record of advancing biologics into the clinic, embodies the spirit of innovation. Dr. John McCafferty (CTO and co-founder), a trailblazing technologist and co-inventor of the Nobel-winning antibody-phage display and the KnotBody technologies, and Dr. Aneesh Karatt-Vellatt (CSO and co-founder), a visionary leader in antibody discovery and KnotBody co-inventor, bring a wealth of expertise in platform development. Together, they form a powerhouse of scientific leadership that has the potential to drive transformative advances in medicine, including autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disease, and chronic pain.

A Revolutionary Approach: Maxion’s KnotBody Platform

Biologics now represent approximately 50%¹ of approved therapies, largely due to their exceptional potency and selectivity compared to small-molecule drugs. However, certain high-value cell surface targets, such as ion channels and GPCRs, have remained out of reach for conventional antibodies, creating a significant opportunity for the development of innovative binders.

Maxion’s proprietary KnotBody platform combines cutting-edge protein engineering and advanced computational techniques to merge the benefits of knottins—naturally evolved ion channel modulators—with those of antibodies. This innovative approach holds the potential to develop potent, selective, and long-acting ion channel modulators, paving the way for antibody-based therapies targeting previously "undruggable" biological targets.

The Series A financing will enable Maxion to advance its lead program, MAX-001, through clinical proof-of-concept, further develop the KnotBody platform, and expand its pipeline across multiple underserved ion channels and GPCR-driven diseases. We’re thrilled to partner with the Maxion team to accelerate drug discovery and achieve pioneering medical breakthroughs.

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^{1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10856271/}