CellCentric lands $120M to power clinical trials of oral cancer drug inobrodib

Despite major progress in treating multiple myeloma, a significant number of patients continue to face relapse or resistance to existing therapies. Many are not eligible for high-intensity treatments, leaving them with limited options. CellCentric, a clinical-stage biotech company, is working to change this reality with a novel, patient-friendly oral drug – inobrodib. Offering a unique mechanism of action and a strong safety profile, inobrodib is emerging as a promising new approach to fill this critical treatment gap.
CellCentric has secured $120 million in Series C funding to accelerate its mission. The round was co-led by RA Capital Management and new investorForbion, both known for backing high-impact biotech ventures. Other participants included Avego Bioscience Capital andBrightEdge, the American Cancer Society’s venture and impact investment arm. The capital injection marks a pivotal step forward for CellCentric as it expands trials and builds toward regulatory milestones.
With this new funding, CellCentric plans to launch a Phase II/III clinical trial targeting heavily pretreated multiple myeloma patients, with the potential to seek accelerated approval. It also intends to prepare for a global Phase III program, scheduled to start in mid-2026.
The company aims to initiate additional studies in Q2 2025, exploring the combination of inobrodib with bi-specific antibodies and evaluating its role as a maintenance therapy. These strategic moves are designed to position Inobrodib as a frontline and follow-up treatment across multiple stages of the disease.
CellCentric was spun out of the University of Cambridge by ProfessorAzim SuraniFRS, CBE, a pioneering developmental biologist renowned for his work on epigenetics and cell fate control. His research into how genes are switched on and off laid the foundation for the company’s focus on targeting cancer at a molecular level. Recognising the opportunity to translate this science into patient therapies, Surani helped establish CellCentric as a bridge between academic discovery and clinical application.
Now headquartered in the UK and the U.S., CellCentric is led by a growing international team of scientists and biotech professionals dedicated to developing first-in-class treatments.
Inobrodib is an oral small-molecule drug designed specifically to treat cancers like multiple myeloma. It targets p300 and CBP, two transcriptional coactivators that regulate the expression of key cancer-driving genes, MYC and IRF4. By disrupting these pathways, inobrodib directly affects the molecular machinery that fuels cancer growth.
The drug stands out for its convenience and safety. Delivered as an oral capsule, it enables at-home treatment and avoids the complexity and toxicity of hospital-based therapies. Because of its favourable safety profile, it may be suitable for patients who cannot tolerate harsher drugs. It also offers potential for broader use in combination with other agents, and could reduce healthcare system burdens compared to traditional treatments.
In recognition of its potential, the FDA granted inobrodib both Fast Track and orphan drug designations in 2023. Early clinical results, shared at the American Society of Haematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, highlighted encouraging safety and efficacy, reinforcing confidence in the drug’s potential.
CellCentric has already made major strides in bringing inobrodib closer to market. Earlier this month, the company opened a new office in Burlington, Massachusetts, expanding its US footprint and strengthening ties to regulatory and research communities in the Boston biotech corridor. As it builds its team and clinical capabilities globally, CellCentric is preparing for pivotal trials and regulatory engagements that could pave the way for a new standard of care in multiple myeloma.
With strong scientific roots, investor confidence, and a groundbreaking drug in development, the company is poised to redefine how patients with resistant or relapsed blood cancers are treated, bringing hope to those who have long run out of options.
Will West, CEO of CellCentric, stated: ​”We are delighted to secure the investment required to continue to advance inobrodib fully and as effectively as possible. This is a significant raise in a challenging market. Today’s announcement is a testament to the data we have in hand, the clear clinical and commercial opportunity inobrodib represents, and the strength of our expanded team.”
Jasper Bos, General Partner at Forbion, who is joining the CellCentric Board, added: “CellCentric has developed an innovative and impactful therapy for multiple myeloma with inobrodib, a first-in-class oral p300/CBP inhibitor. This novel agent has demonstrated promising efficacy and a manageable safety profile in early clinical trials. We are enthusiastic about supporting CellCentric as it advances inobrodib into registration studies, aiming to transform multiple myeloma treatment across various stages of the disease.”