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§ Private Profile · Basel, Switzerland
Windward Bio is a technology company.
Windward Bio is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing long-acting therapies for advanced immunological conditions. Its lead program, WIN378, an anti-TSLP monoclonal antibody, is in Phase 2 trials for asthma. The pipeline includes WIN027, a clinical-stage, long-acting anti-TSLPxIL-13 bispecific antibody. The company targets validated biology in respiratory and dermatological diseases with bispecific antibodies.
Luca Santarelli, MD, founded Windward Bio and serves as Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair. Launched in January 2025, Santarelli's vision was to improve treatments for severe immunological diseases. His drug discovery and development background underpins Windward Bio's strategy and commitment to addressing unmet medical needs.
Windward Bio's therapies target patients with advanced immunological conditions, initially focusing on chronic severe respiratory diseases like asthma. Its vision is to advance long-acting antibody treatments for sustained efficacy and improved patient experiences. Windward Bio aims to lead immunological medicine by innovating solutions that enhance quality of life for affected individuals.
Windward Bio has raised $200.0M across 1 funding round.
Windward Bio has raised $200.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Windward Bio has raised $200.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Windward Bio's investors include OrbiMed, Naveed Siddiqi, Hercules Capital.
Windward Bio has raised $200.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $200.0M Series A in January 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2025 | $200M Series A | OrbiMed, Naveed Siddiqi | Hercules Capital | Announced |
Windward Bio is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing long-acting therapies for advanced immunological diseases, with an initial focus on severe respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD.[1][2][3] Its lead product, WIN378, is a potential best-in-class monoclonal antibody targeting thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), currently in a Phase 2 trial (POLARIS) evaluating safety, efficacy, and dosing in asthma patients, with initial data expected mid-2026.[3][6] The company also advances WIN027, a clinical-stage bispecific targeting TSLP and IL-13, and builds a pipeline of long-acting bispecifics for respiratory and dermatological conditions.[3] Launched in January 2025 with a $200M Series A led by OrbiMed, Novo Holdings, and Blue Owl, Windward serves patients with severe asthma and COPD by addressing unmet needs through extended half-life dosing (every 6 months subcutaneously), reducing treatment burden while leveraging validated TSLP inhibition.[2][5] Early momentum includes global partnerships for WIN378 licensing and pipeline expansion via internal R&D and business development.[2][6]
Windward Bio was founded in early 2025 by Luca Santarelli, MD, an experienced biopharmaceutical executive serving as CEO and Chairman, who identified the need for novel therapeutics in serious immunological conditions.[2][3][5] The idea emerged from targeting the highly validated TSLP pathway, building on prior clinical successes in asthma and COPD, with WIN378 engineered for superior half-life extension and effector silencing.[2][3][6] The company officially launched on January 10, 2025, backed by a $200M Series A from top investors including OrbiMed, Novo Holdings, Blue Owl Healthcare Opportunities, SR One, Omega Funds, RTW Investments, Qiming Venture Partners, Quan Capital, and Pivotal bioVenture Partners.[2][5] Pivotal early traction came from exclusive global licensing (ex-Greater China and select Asian regions) of WIN378 from Kelun-Biotech and Harbour BioMed, enabling rapid Phase 2 advancement, alongside initiation of the POLARIS trial and pipeline additions like WIN027.[3][6] Led by a team with deep expertise in discovery, development, and commercialization, Windward quickly positioned itself for Phase 2 readiness.[1][2]
Windward Bio stands out in immunology through engineered long-acting antibodies and bispecifics that improve patient outcomes via reduced dosing frequency and broad applicability:
Windward Bio rides the wave of long-acting biologics in immunology, capitalizing on TSLP's validation from prior therapies while pioneering bispecifics and extended half-life formats amid rising demand for infrequent-dosing options in chronic respiratory diseases.[2][3][6] Timing aligns with post-2025 biotech resurgence, fueled by investor confidence (e.g., $200M Series A) and regulatory momentum for Phase 2 assets in asthma/COPD, where market forces like high unmet needs (severe phenotypes, poor adherence to frequent dosing) and synergistic biology (TSLP+IL-13) favor differentiation.[2][5][6] Headquartered in Switzerland with global trials, it influences the ecosystem by partnering with innovators like Harbour BioMed, expanding pipelines via co-discovery, and potentially setting new standards for bispecifics—accelerating industry shift toward durable, multi-target therapies in a $100B+ immunology market.[3][6]
Windward Bio's near-term catalysts include POLARIS topline data mid-2026, COPD trials in 2026, and IND filings for two bispecifics, potentially de-risking its pipeline and attracting follow-on funding or partnerships.[3][5][6] Trends like AI-driven antibody engineering and bispecific dominance will shape its path, enabling broader expansion into dermatology and beyond TSLP.[3] Its influence could evolve from respiratory specialist to immunology leader if WIN378 demonstrates superior durability, redefining standards for patient-centric biologics—echoing its launch promise to transform outcomes in advanced immunological diseases.[2][3]