New Investment in Ventyx Biosciences

LEI: 549300Q7EXQQH6KF7Z84

09 March 2021

RTW Venture Fund Limited

New Investment in Ventyx Biosciences

RTW Participates in $114 Million Financing Round in Ventyx Biosciences

RTW Venture Fund Limited (the "Company"), the London Stock Exchange-listed investment company focused on identifying transformative assets with high growth potential across the life sciences sector, is pleased to note the announcement by Ventyx Biosciences, Inc. ("Ventyx") on 09 March 2021 of its completion of a $114 million financing round.

The Company, alongside other investment vehicles of RTW Investments, LP (the "Investment Manager"), confirms that it participated in the financing round together with other investment firms.

Ventyx is a privately held clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of novel small molecule therapeutics with a best-in-class potential for patients with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Ventyx's pipeline programs include: (1) a selective allosteric TYK2 inhibitor for a broad range of immunological disorders, (2) a tissue selective S1P1R modulator for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and (3) a preclinical NLRP3 inhibitor program.

Roderick Wong, MD, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer at the Investment Manager, said:

"We are pleased to support Ventyx's vision to build a leading immunology company and its efforts to develop innovative and potentially transformative new therapies for patients suffering from inflammatory and autoimmune conditions."

The Investment Manager is looking forward to growing the Company's investment pipeline and updating shareholders on further opportunities in due course.

Ventyx's announcement can be accessed on its website at: www.ventyxbiosciences.com, the full text of which is contained below.  

For Further Information

RTW Investments, LP                                    +1 (646) 343 9280
Stephanie Sirota, Chief Business Officer
Alexandra Taracanova, PhD, Director of Investor Relations

Julia Enright, Senior Business Development Associate

Buchanan                                                         +44 (0)20 7466 5107
Charles Ryland

Henry Wilson

George Beale

About RTW Venture Fund Limited:

RTW Venture Fund Limited (LSE: RTW) is an investment fund focused on identifying transformative assets with high growth potential across the biopharmaceutical and medical technology sectors. Driven by a long-term approach to support innovative businesses, RTW Venture Fund invests in companies developing next-generation therapies and technologies that can significantly improve patients' lives.

RTW Venture Fund Limited is managed by RTW Investments, LP, a leading healthcare-focused entrepreneurial investment firm with deep scientific expertise and a strong track record of supporting companies developing life-changing therapies.

Visit the RTW website at www.rtwfunds.com for more information.

Ventyx Biosciences Raises $114 Million Financing led by venBio Partners to Advance Diverse Pipeline of Immunology Programs

Proceeds to accelerate clinical development of best-in-class immunology programs and advance preclinical programs against novel drug targets with its prolific drug discovery engine

ENCINITAS, March  9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -  Ventyx Biosciences, Inc. ("Ventyx"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of immune modulators to treat inflammatory diseases and autoimmune disorders, today announced the completion of a $114 million equity financing led by venBio Partners alongside new investors, including Third Point, RTW Investments, LP, Janus Henderson Investors, Wellington, OrbiMed Advisors, Surveyor Capital (a Citadel company), Farallon Capital, Vivo Capital, Logos Capital, Qiming Venture Partners USA, Cormorant Asset Management, and  participation from existing investor New Science Ventures.  In connection with the financing, Richard Gaster, M.D., Ph.D. and Aaron Royston, M.D., M.B.A. of venBio Partners and Jigar Choksey, M.B.A. of Third Point will be joining the Ventyx Board of Directors.

"We are extremely proud to have the support of such prominent investors who share our enthusiasm, dedication and vision to build a world-class immunology company," said Raju Mohan, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Ventyx.  "The additional capital will allow us to accelerate our clinical development programs while simultaneously expanding our portfolio of small molecule therapeutics with best-in-class potential for patients with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.  We have brought together a syndicate of experienced investors that can support the long-term growth and development of our deep pipeline of immune modulators."

Ventyx's internally discovered and wholly-owned portfolio of potent and selective small molecule drug candidates target multiple indications in the immunology space, including gastrointestinal and dermatological diseases.  The company's pipeline combines the clinical stage programs of three companies founded by Raju Mohan and New Science Ventures:

1)    A tissue selective S1P1R modulator for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other indications that was developed by Oppilan Pharma;

2)    A selective allosteric TYK2 inhibitor, developed by Ventyx, that is projected to demonstrate high efficacy and therapeutic utility across a broad range of immunological disorders; and

3)    the NLRP3 inhibitor program, created by Zomagen.  The first candidate of this program will enter the clinic in the second half of this year. 

In addition, the company is leveraging its world-class drug discovery platform to advance preclinical programs against other biologically relevant targets involved in difficult to treat inflammatory diseases and autoimmune disorders.

"The Ventyx team has done an extraordinary job of rapidly and efficiently advancing high-quality drug candidates into the clinic against compelling biological targets," said Richard Gaster of venBio.  "We have been closely tracking the I&I space and are excited to bring these assets together into one outstanding company and lead the current financing round.  We are eager to support Ventyx's efforts to bring meaningful new treatments to patients."

"We are pleased to bring in such a distinguished group of healthcare investors to support the development of the company's innovative immunology programs, and we welcome Rich, Aaron and Jigar to the Board," added Somu Subramaniam of New Science Ventures.

About Ventyx Biosciences, Inc.

Ventyx Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing a broad pipeline of potent and selective small-molecule drug candidates to treat inflammatory diseases and autoimmune disorders.  Ventyx Biosciences combines assets from three formerly separate, asset-centric companies: Oppilan Pharma, targeting S1P1R, Zomagen Biosciences, targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome, and the original Ventyx Biosciences, targeting TYK2.  The diversified portfolio in the newly formed joint entity includes best-in-class, highly differentiated clinical-stage programs and preclinical programs targeting high-value targets.

Ventyx is headquartered in Encinitas, California.  For more information about Ventyx, please visit www.ventyxbiosciences.com.

About venBio Partners

venBio Partners is a life sciences investment firm that partners with industry leaders to build and invest in innovative medicines and technologies, with a focus on novel therapeutics for unmet medical needs.  See www.venbio.com.

About New Science Ventures

New Science Ventures, LLC (NSV) is a New York-based venture capital firm that invests in companies using breakthrough science to create and build great companies in the life sciences and information technology sectors.  NSV was founded in 2004 by Somu Subramaniam, Managing Partner, and has invested approximately $800 million in both early and late-stage companies located in the United States and Europe.  For more information, please visit www.newscienceventures.com.

Contacts:

Chris Krueger

Chief Business Officer

Ventyx Biosciences, Inc.

(858) 945-2393

[email protected]

Investor Relations and Media Contact

Juniper Point

Amy Conrad

(858) 914-1962

[email protected]