Oxford Finance closed a $50 million senior secured term loan for Kezar Life Sciences, a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing treatments for immune-mediated and oncologic disorders. Kezar will use proceeds from the transaction for general growth capital and for further advancement of the company’s clinical candidates, KZR-616 and KZR-261.
Founded in 2015, Kezar is pioneering small molecule therapies that harness master regulators of cellular function to inhibit multiple drivers of disease via single targets.
“Kezar is led by a highly skilled management team with extensive scientific expertise in immunology and oncology. The company is positioned to tackle the toughest diseases through innovative small molecule therapies that unlock the potential for profound therapeutic benefits,” Christopher A. Herr, senior managing director at Oxford Finance, said. “Oxford is proud to support a company dedicated to providing a new, hopeful approach to those affected by autoimmune disease and cancer.”
“This non-dilutive strategic financing, together with our current cash, strengthens our balance sheet as we advance our clinical programs and overall platform for patients affected by a range of immune-mediated and oncologic diseases,” Marc Belsky, CFO of Kezar Life Sciences, said. “Importantly, this facility provides us with greater financial and operational flexibility as we approach top-line data readouts for KZR-616 in the second quarter of 2022.”
