TORL's pipeline of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were discovered in the laboratory of scientific co-founder Dennis Slamon, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine, and Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM). He is an accomplished physician and scientist whose research was pivotal in identifying HER2 as a target in breast cancer and the development and initial approval of trastuzumab (Herceptin). Dr. Slamon's lab went on to discover CDK4/6 as an important target in hormone receptor (HR+) positive breast cancer. Subsequently, his group led the clinical development of CDK4/6 inhibitors, resulting in breakthrough status therapies palbociclib (Ibrance) and ribociclib (Kisqali), in HR+ breast cancer.

The round was led by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, with participation from UC, Office of the Chief Investment Officer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Deep Track Capital, Vertex Ventures HC, Moore Strategic Ventures, Cowen Healthcare Investments, Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Fund, and existing investors including Alexandria Venture Investments and OCV Partners.

TORL BioTherapeutics LLC is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with the objective of developing novel, antibody-based therapeutics to transform the lives of cancer patients. Its lead candidate, TORL-1-23, is a CLDN6-directed ADC developed for patients across multiple cancer types. The Company also has two other clinical-stage programs; an ADC and mAb targeting CLDN 18.2. Additionally, TORL is developing a broad pipeline of novel preclinical ADCs and mAb in oncologic indications with a high unmet medical need.