Bellicum Pharmaceuticals Raises $34.4 Million in a Series B Financing

HOUSTON, Jan. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has completed a second and final closing of its Series B financing, securing an additional $14.7 million and bringing the total raised in the round to $34.4 million. Current investors provided the additional funding, including AVG Ventures and Remeditex Ventures.

The funding will be used to expand clinical development of Bellicum's lead cellular immunotherapy product candidates.

"Bellicum is well positioned within the highly promising field of cellular immunotherapy with a technology that provides control over cells after they have been administered to the patient," said Bellicum CEO Tom Farrell. "This funding will be used to advance our two clinical programs in leukemia/lymphoma and prostate cancer, and launch studies in additional indications where there is urgent need for safer and more effective cell therapies."

Bellicum's two lead clinical development programs utilize the Company's unique ability to control cell therapies once inside the body. BPX-501 T cells contain the Company's CaspaCIDe™ gene "safety switch," enabling physicians to eliminate transplanted cells in the event they become harmful to the patient. The product is being evaluated in a Phase I/II study to reduce or eliminate Graft versus Host Disease in cancer patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

BPX-201 dendritic cells contain the Company's DeCIDe^® gene "on switch," which enables physicians to strategically target immune activation for a more potent anti-tumor effect. It is being evaluated in a Phase I clinical trial in patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer.

About Bellicum Pharmaceuticals

Bellicum is dedicated to developing safer and more effective cell therapies to treat cancers and other serious, life-threatening diseases. The Company's cell therapies are engineered with a gene "switch" that enables physicians to activate or eliminate cells once inside the body to improve safety and efficacy. Bellicum is advancing clinical programs in cellular transplants to reduce or eliminate Graft versus Host Disease, and in prostate cancer with a potentially more potent immunotherapy. For more information please visit www.bellicum.com

SOURCE Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.