Treeline Biosciences, Inc., a privately held, clinical-stage biopharma company, has initiated Phase 1 trials for two of its internally developed programs, TLN-121 and TLN-372, as well as a third in-licensed program, TLN-254. In conjunction with this announcement, the company also disclosed the successful closing of a $200 million Series A extension, bringing its total funding to an impressive $1.1 billion. This substantial capital infusion has empowered the company to assemble a team of experienced scientists and to rigorously develop a robust pipeline through extensive parallel discovery efforts.
The company's leadership consists of co-founders and oncologists Josh Bilenker and Jeff Engelman. Bilenker previously founded Loxo Oncology, which was responsible for three FDA-approved medicines, while Engelman served as a global head of oncology at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research. The in-house research and development team leverages advanced computational tools to streamline workflows and expedite timelines.
Treeline’s therapeutic focus extends beyond cancer to include neurological and autoimmune diseases. The company’s programs encompass small molecules, degraders, and targeted therapy ADCs. The current pipeline and team were strategically built to support long-term invention and corporate longevity.
The first three clinical programs in Treeline’s pipeline reflect the founding team's extensive experience in cancer research and development. TLN-121 is a BCL6 protein degrader being studied for use in B-cell and T-cell lymphomas. This therapy is designed to remove the BCL6 protein, which certain lymphoma cells exploit to promote their growth and survival, while minimizing off-target effects. Another program, TLN-372, is a pan-KRAS inhibitor for patients with solid tumors that express certain KRAS mutations. Although some KRAS variants have approved treatments, many remain unaddressed, making TLN-372, with its novel chemistry and drug-like properties, a potential breakthrough for a broad range of cancers. The third program, TLN-254, is an EZH2 inhibitor that Treeline in-licensed after it had already undergone Phase 2 testing. This small molecule is now being studied in patients with peripheral and cutaneous T-cell lymphomas.
According to CEO Josh Bilenker, the company's objective is to become a leading biopharma entity. He noted that targets like BCL6 and KRAS presented significant challenges, requiring difficult chemistry and the creation of novel assays. Treeline hopes that these programs will deliver meaningful results for patients and build momentum for future clinical endeavors. The company's significant funding, with investors including AI Life Sciences, ARCH Venture Partners, and OrbiMed, further supports its mission to create medicines with the potential to redefine the treatment of serious diseases.