Nov. 4, 2009 (PR Newswire) --

ROCKVILLE, Md., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Zyngenia, Inc., a privately held biotherapeutics company focused on next-generation antibody drug development, today announced that it has secured $10 million in Series A funding from New Enterprise Associates (NEA), one of the world's leading venture capital firms. The capital will be used to create novel, multi-specific antibody-like molecules that address two or more biological targets with a single agent. The company will initially focus on various cancers and autoimmune diseases.

"Zyngenia's technology platform, developed by Carlos Barbas of The Scripps Institute, is very compelling due to its ability to create biologics that are single protein-combination therapeutics in a manner that is likely to be scientifically, medically, and economically transforming," said Peter Kiener, D.Phil., Zyngenia Chief Executive Officer. "With financial support from NEA, we are poised to take a leadership role in the development of multi-specific biologic therapies."

In previous positions at MedImmune and Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS), Dr. Kiener gained extensive experience in both biologics and small molecule drug discovery across oncology, immunology, infectious disease and other therapeutic areas. During eight years at MedImmune, most recently as Executive Vice President and Head of Research and Development, Dr. Kiener helped to build industry-leading protein and antibody engineering capabilities and oversaw the submission of numerous INDs and BLAs. Dr. Kiener was also responsible for the integration of both the protein/antibody engineering company Cambridge Antibody Technology and the B-cell biologics company Cellective Therapeutics into MedImmune. Prior to joining MedImmune, Dr. Kiener spent 18 years with Bristol-Myers Squibb's Pharmaceutical Research Division.

Carlos F. Barbas, III, Ph.D., Zyngenia's Chief Scientific Officer, is Professor and Chair of the Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology and the Departments of Molecular Biology and Chemistry at The Scripps Institute, La Jolla, California. Dr. Barbas is renowned for his work in peptides and proteins, antibodies and chemically programmed antibodies. He has particular expertise in novel antibody technologies and was a founder of two successful antibody platform companies, Cov-X Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Pfizer) and Prolifaron (acquired by Alexion).

Zyngenia's founding management team also includes Joseph Amprey, M.D., Ph.D., former head of MedImmune Ventures, Inc., as Chief Business Officer. Dr. Amprey joined MedImmune Ventures as the first full-time employee and helped grow the portfolio from 13 investments to 28. He led 11 deals during his time at MedImmune Ventures and served on five boards.