Esperance raises $5.7mm through first closing of Series B round

Esperance Pharmaceuticals Inc. (anticancer peptide therapeutics) raised $5.7mm in the first closing of its Series B round, which is expected to generate a total of $7.5mm. Sanofi invested $4.5mm, and earmarked $1.5mm of that specifically for clinical and regulatory services related to continued development of Esperance's EP100, a Phase I solid tumor candidate. All of Esperance's existing backers also participated including Louisiana Fund I, Themelios Ventures (managed by BVM Capital), Research Corp. Technologies, Advantage Capital Partners/Louisiana Technology Fund, and five other investors.