SAN DIEGO, Calif., June 20, 2026
cAMPfield Therapeutics has officially emerged from stealth with a $180 million Series A financing to advance prifemilast, a potentially best-in-class oral PDE4 inhibitor being developed for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The financing was led by Frazier Life Sciences and supported by a syndicate of leading life science investors including Deep Track Capital, Forbion, Abingworth, Venrock, Longitude Capital, Novo Holdings, and RA Capital. The newly launched clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company was founded by Mountainfield Venture Partners in collaboration with industry veterans who played pivotal roles in the development and commercialization of blockbuster therapies such as Humira®, Entyvio®, Otezla®, and Zeposia®. With fresh capital and a seasoned leadership team, cAMPfield plans to rapidly advance global clinical programs for prifemilast, positioning the therapy as a potentially transformative oral treatment option for patients living with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.
Prifemilast Positioned as a Potential Best-in-Class PDE4 Inhibitor
The company’s lead asset, prifemilast (HY1999/HPP737), is a once-daily investigational oral therapy designed to selectively inhibit phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B), a target strongly associated with anti-inflammatory activity. Unlike earlier PDE4 inhibitors that often suffered from tolerability challenges due to broader inhibition of PDE4 subtypes, prifemilast has demonstrated greater selectivity for PDE4B while limiting activity against PDE4D, a subtype frequently linked to dose-limiting side effects. More than 700 participants have received prifemilast across clinical studies, including over 250 individuals with long-term exposure extending beyond 52 weeks.
The therapy has demonstrated encouraging efficacy and favorable tolerability in multiple clinical settings, including a successful Phase 3 trial in plaque psoriasis, a disease that shares several inflammatory pathways with IBD. Researchers believe these attributes may position prifemilast as a next-generation oral therapy capable of delivering meaningful disease control without the limitations associated with many currently available treatments.
Global Clinical Development Targets Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease
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Building on promising clinical data, cAMPfield is initiating a global Phase 2b trial in moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis alongside a global Phase 2 study in Crohn’s disease. The clinical programs aim to evaluate whether prifemilast can address persistent unmet needs among patients who continue to experience inadequate disease control despite the availability of numerous approved therapies. Although biologics and advanced therapies have transformed IBD management, many patients fail to achieve deep and durable remission, while others discontinue treatment because of safety concerns, loss of efficacy, or treatment burden.
Oral therapies remain highly attractive to both physicians and patients because of their convenience, yet currently approved oral options often face limitations related to efficacy, safety, or tolerability. By combining once-daily dosing with a favorable clinical profile, prifemilast may offer a differentiated treatment option capable of improving long-term patient outcomes and expanding therapeutic choices in the IBD market.
Veteran Leadership and Strong Investor Support Drive Growth
cAMPfield’s launch reflects growing investor confidence in innovative therapies targeting immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. The company benefits from a leadership team with extensive experience in gastroenterology and immunology drug development, including executives responsible for advancing several of the most successful therapies in the field. Their expertise spans drug discovery, clinical development, regulatory strategy, commercialization, and market access. Supported by one of the largest Series A financings in the inflammatory disease sector this year, cAMPfield is positioned to accelerate development timelines and execute global clinical programs efficiently.
As IBD continues to affect millions of patients worldwide and remains an area of significant unmet medical need, the emergence of a potentially best-in-class oral PDE4 inhibitor could represent an important advancement in treatment innovation. Through its substantial financial backing, experienced management team, and promising clinical candidate, cAMPfield aims to establish a new benchmark for oral therapies in inflammatory bowel disease and reshape the future of IBD care.
Source: cAMPfield Therapeutics press release
