Terremoto Biosciences has secured $108 million in a Series C financing round, strengthening its position in the race to develop next-generation targeted therapies for cancer and rare diseases. The funding round drew participation from a mix of new and existing investors, highlighting strong confidence in the company’s scientific approach and clinical pipeline.
New investors in the round include RA Capital Management, Deep Track Capital, Osage University Partners, and BeOne Medicines. They were joined by existing backers such as OrbiMed, Third Rock Ventures, Novo Holdings, and Cormorant Asset Management.
The proceeds will primarily be used to advance Terremoto’s lead drug candidates into and through early-stage clinical development. The company is focused on highly selective small molecule inhibitors targeting AKT1, a key protein involved in disease progression across multiple cancers and certain rare conditions.
Terremoto’s lead oncology candidate, TER-2013, is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial for solid tumors associated with genetic alterations in pathways such as PIK3CA, AKT, and PTEN. These mutations are widely implicated in cancer biology and are particularly common in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, where they are found in a significant proportion of patients. By selectively targeting AKT1, TER-2013 aims to improve treatment outcomes while minimizing the side effects often seen with less selective therapies.
In parallel, the company is advancing TER-4480, a program aimed at treating Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT), a rare inherited condition characterized by abnormal blood vessel formation and recurrent bleeding. With no approved therapies currently available for HHT, Terremoto sees an opportunity to address a critical unmet medical need. The company expects this candidate to enter clinical trials later this year.
AKT proteins, which include three closely related isoforms—AKT1, AKT2, and AKT3—play a central role in regulating cell growth and survival. However, conventional therapies targeting the broader PI3K/AKT pathway have often been limited by toxicity, particularly due to unintended inhibition of AKT2, which can lead to adverse effects such as skin reactions and metabolic disturbances.
Terremoto’s approach leverages advanced medicinal chemistry techniques to selectively inhibit AKT1 while sparing other isoforms. This precision strategy is designed to deliver more durable responses and improved tolerability, potentially overcoming a major limitation in current targeted therapies.
With fresh capital in hand, the company is now poised to accelerate its clinical programs and further validate its differentiated approach to precision medicine in oncology and rare diseases.