Wheeler Bio, Inc., a CDMO specializing in process development and small batch cGMP production of therapeutic antibodies, announced the closing of their Series A financing round. The company will use the funding to complete its state-of-the-art cGMP cell banking and drug substance manufacturing facility (500 L scale) in The Ziggurat, an Oklahoma City office tower. The first cGMP production batches in the new facility will begin in 3Q23.

The round was co-led by Charles River Laboratories and Echo, with participation from ATUM, Floating Point Advisors, Pine Ridge Ventures, Plains Venture Partners, Seagull Capital, and Alloy Therapeutics.

According to the company, it’s building a disruptive CDMO model that is changing the paradigm for the gene-to-IND supply chain. Their primary service offering, Portable CMC, is an open source “CMC middleware” designed to deliver speed, efficiency, predictability, and freedom to operate by integrating discovery CROs and CDMOs and  bridging the translational gap.

Portable CMC includes integrated development services, including manufacturability assessments, stable pool and clone development, process and analytical method development, process demonstration, and technology transfer into cGMP production.

The platform aims to enhance key business integrations that speed up the translational steps for clients while lowering technical, regulatory, and business risks.

“Wheeler is at the forefront of phase-appropriate CMC drug development programming. We serve clients and partners with cutting-edge development services, including Portable CMC,” said Jesse McCool, Co-Founder and CEO at Wheeler Bio. “The Series A validates our thesis that developers of next-gen therapeutic proteins want access to more focused development and manufacturing resources with high agility and small batch sizes to be successful. We are intentionally staying inside of the box.”

Brian Berquist, chief development officer at Wheeler Bio said, “Wheeler is laser-focused on translational CMC while solving for clients’ timelines and budgets along the way to first-in-human studies. Our platform reduces risk by enhancing product and process knowledge gained using well-integrated tools, technologies, and digital solutions like Leap-In Transposase, Solentim, Ambr Microbioreactors, DynaDrive Single-Use Bioreactors, the Synthace Experiment Platform, and DataHowLab.”

“Wheeler Bio’s advancements and continued growth embody Echo’s aim to reestablish American manufacturing jobs, reinforce critical industries, and solve problems for coastal companies by connecting overlooked domestic resources,” said Christian Kanady, co-Founder at Wheeler Bio and Founding Partner at Echo. “Alongside respected partners, Wheeler Bio is connecting Oklahoma City with the global industry, accelerating drug development, and unlocking our region’s comparative advantages.”