OREANDA-NEWS. Arix Bioscience PLC, a global healthcare and life science company supporting medical innovation, announced today that it has participated, along with leading European and US healthcare investors, in a Series A financing of Artios Pharma Ltd., a new private company focused on the DNA Damage Response (DDR). Artios has announced the launch of the company, and successful completion of its fundraise of $33.2 million.

Dr. Jonathan Tobin of Arix Bioscience, has joined the Board of Artios and will provide strategic input to the company.

Arix Bioscience has joined a strong syndicate of leading European and US life science investors including SV Life Sciences, Merck Ventures, Imperial Innovations, CRT Pioneer Fund (managed by Sixth Element Capital), and AbbVie Ventures. Proceeds of the financing will be used to build a high value pipeline of DDR therapies, and to progress Artios' lead programme, Pol-theta, in-licensed from Cancer Research Technology (CRT), the development and commercialisation arm of Cancer Research UK (CRUK), into the clinic.

DDR therapies have demonstrated significant patient benefit in the treatment of cancer, following the recent success of AstraZeneca's PARP inhibitor Lynparza™ (olaparib). Artios aims to develop a novel, first-in-class DDR pipeline that will target tumour DNA repair mechanisms to selectively kill tumour cells through a concept known as "synthetic lethality".

Dr. Joe Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of Arix Bioscience, said: "We are delighted to support Artios in this new and exciting area of drug discovery and development. Our participation in the financing of Artios highlights Arix's continued commitment to support emerging innovative companies, and we believe that Artios has launched at the optimal time and has the potential to transform cancer therapy through DDR therapies."

Dr. Niall Martin, Chief Executive Officer of Artios, said: "We are pleased to have the financial and strategic support of Arix as one of our world-class investors. Artios is committed to establishing DDR inhibitors as first-line therapies for the treatment of