Antiva Biosciences, a biopharmaceutical company that develops treatments for cancer virus, successfully closes its series C round with $22 million. Brace Pharma Capital led this funding round, along with participation from new investors – NS Investment, Osage University Partners and Alexandria Venture Investments, and existing investors – Canaan Partners and Sofinnova Ventures. The latest financing will enable Antiva to push its ABI-1968 product into clinical studies.

Since its inception, Antiva has raised a total of $40.25 million in four funding rounds. Earlier in 2015, the company had closed its series B funding with $16 million from Canaan Partners and Sofinnova Ventures. Also, post the latest funding round, VinzenzPloerer, President & CEO of Brace Pharma Capital will join Antiva’s Board of Directors. “We are committed to the development of therapies for diseases that have a major impact on global health. This novel approach to a long unmet need has great potential to minimize the threat of HPV infections, which today is still leading to devastating cancers throughout the world,” says Vinzenz.

Headquartered in California, Antiva Biosciences was founded by Karl Hostetler in 2012. The company specializes in developing novel, localized therapeutics for the treatment of diseases caused by HPV infection. Till date, Antivahas developed over two hundred proprietary pro-drug compounds that enhance the therapeutic index of known, potent antivirals. Commenting on the occasion, Gail Maderis, President & CEO of Antiva, says, “Despite the introduction of prophylactic HPV vaccines more than 10 years ago, there are tens of millions of women living with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Our goal is to make treating this precancerous condition as routine as treating a yeast infection. This financing will help us advance ABI-1968 into clinical studies, bringing it one step closer to the women who need it”.