Anthera Pharmaceuticals has raised $19 million in a second round of funding led by Caxton Advantage Life Sciences Fund and HBM BioCapital. Existing investors VantagePoint Venture Partners, Sofinnova Ventures, Pappas Ventures and Mitsubishi International Corporation also participated.
The San Mateo, Calif. company is developing treatments for inflammatory diseases and autoimmune disorders. told VentureWire that its lead treatment, Varespladib, is directed at cardiovascular patients and has completed two Phase II tests. Anthera raised $36 million in 2006.