Westlake Village BioPartners

What Westlake Village BioPartners does

Westlake BioPartners (legal entity Westlake BioPartners, LLC; previously branded Westlake Village BioPartners) is a privately held, people-first life sciences venture capital firm headquartered in Westlake Village, California, with approximately $1.3 billion in assets under management. The firm specializes in incubating and building early-stage therapeutic biotechnology companies around world-class entrepreneurs, operating what it calls "The Westlake Way" — an intentionally small, relationship-driven model that pairs founding scientific and industry leaders with capital, hands-on operating support, and access to the Los Angeles biotech community the firm helped catalyze. Westlake's concentrated portfolio spans multiple modalities and therapeutic areas — antibody therapeutics, engineered AAV gene therapy, CAR T-cell therapy, kinase inhibitors, and peptides — and includes at least 18 named companies such as Kyverna Therapeutics, Capsida Biotherapeutics, Star Therapeutics, AllRock Bio, Oorja Bio, Recludix Pharma, Latigo Biotherapeutics, Arsenal Biosciences, Neuron23, ACELYRIN, 3T Biosciences, Dantari, and Borealis Biosciences.

The firm operates as the general partner of private investment funds, generating revenue through management fees and carried interest typical of venture fund economics; it is not registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and distributes limited partnership interests only to qualified LPs via private placement exemptions under the Securities Act of 1933. Westlake typically leads or co-leads founding and Series A financings — Vedana Therapeutics ($46M, June 2026), Oorja Bio ($30M, May 2026), AllRock Bio ($50M, Sept 2025), Kate Therapeutics ($51M, June 2023), Latigo Biotherapeutics ($135M, Feb 2024), 3T Biosciences ($40M, Aug 2022), Dantari ($47M, Dec 2022), Capsida Biotherapeutics ($50M, April 2021) — and selectively participates in follow-on rounds (ArsenalBio $325M Series C Sept 2024; Star Therapeutics $125M Series D Sept 2025; Neuron23 $96.5M Series D June 2025). The portfolio has generated substantial liquidity: Kyverna Therapeutics' IPO on Nasdaq (Feb 2024), Alumis's public offering, ACELYRIN's public listing, the acquisition of Tmunity by Kite/Gilead (Dec 2022), the acquisition of Kate Therapeutics by Novartis (Nov 2024), and the announced acquisition of Vega Therapeutics (Star's subsidiary) by Incyte (June 2026) for $1.25 billion upfront plus up to $750 million in sales milestones.

Strategic co-investors across the portfolio include Versant Ventures, Canaan Partners, 5AM Ventures, Foresite Capital, Blue Owl Capital, Sanofi Ventures, Viking Global Investors, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, NEA, Kleiner Perkins, Cormorant, RA Capital, Sofinnova, and OrbiMed. Pharma partners span AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genentech, Novartis, Incyte, Gilead/Kite, Sanofi, Eli Lilly, and Astellas. The firm does not develop proprietary laboratory technology; its core capability is a proprietary company-formation framework — "Put People First," "It Takes a Village," "Be Engaged," "See It Through," "Patients Are Our North Star" — executed through Managing Directors Beth Seidenberg (Founding), Sean Harper (Co-Founding), Mira Chaurushiya, and David Allison, who personally recruit operators and shepherd portfolio companies from ideation through clinical and commercial stages.

Name

Westlake Village BioPartners

Legal name

Westlake BioPartners, LLC

Website

https://westlakebio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Westlake BioPartners is a privately held life sciences venture capital firm managing $1.3B that incubates and builds early-stage therapeutic biotechs around world-class entrepreneurs, with a concentrated portfolio spanning antibodies, gene therapy, cell therapy, and small molecules.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Micro-PE / Lower Middle Market ETA Funds (FSANALAG)

Keywords

• Venture capital funding
• Life sciences investing
• Biotech incubation
• Company formation services
• Private equity firm

Headquarters

HQ city

Westlake Village

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Private investment fund returns: Westlake BioPartners, LLC operates private investment funds that rely on private placement exemptions under the Securities Act of 1933 and are not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940; Westlake itself is not registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Revenue is generated through management fees and carried interest from these funds (typical VC fund economics implied but not explicitly disclosed).
2. Portfolio company investment returns (capital gains): Firm holds equity stakes in portfolio companies (e.g., Capsida Biotherapeutics, Kyverna Therapeutics, Oorja Bio, Vedana Therapeutics, AllRock Bio, Star Therapeutics, Electra Therapeutics, Recludix Pharma) and realizes returns via IPOs (e.g., Kyverna Therapeutics IPO, Alumis), acquisitions (e.g., Tmunity by Kite/Gilead, Kate Therapeutics by Novartis, Vega/Star subsidiary by Incyte, Acelyrin public listing), and follow-on financings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Westlake Village BioPartners is a people-first life sciences venture capital firm that incubates and builds early-stage biotechnology companies around world-class entrepreneurs. The firm manages private investment funds (approximately $1.3 billion in assets under management), typically leading or co-leading founding/seed and Series A financings for therapeutic-focused biotechs spanning modalities such as antibody therapies, AAV gene therapy capsids, CAR T-cell therapies, and small molecule kinase inhibitors. Beyond capital, Westlake provides hands-on operating support, executive recruiting, and access to its LA-anchored biotech community from ideation through clinical and commercial stages.

Product overview

Westlake BioPartners (also known as Westlake Village BioPartners) is a people-first life science venture capital firm — not a software product company — and therefore does not ship a discrete commercial software product, API, or platform offering. Its offering is a venture capital investment and company-incubation service based in Westlake Village, California (Los Angeles area), managing approximately $1.3 billion in assets. The firm crafts and funds early-stage biotechnology companies around world-class entrepreneurs, providing personal-attention hands-on support, connections to innovation, and access to capital across the company life cycle from ideation and preclinical research through clinical and commercial impact. Portfolio companies (which represent its incubated investments rather than internal product modules) span multiple therapeutic areas and modalities and include Vedana Therapeutics (anti-PACAP and PACAP/CGRP bispecific antibodies for migraine prevention), Recludix Pharma (oral SH2 domain inhibitors including STAT6 and BTK programs), Oorja Bio (ORJ-001 β1 integrin agonist peptide for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis), Kyverna Therapeutics (CD19 CAR T-cell therapy miv-cel for autoimmune diseases), Star Therapeutics/Vega Therapeutics (VGA039 anti-Protein S monoclonal antibody for bleeding disorders), AllRock Bio (ROC-101 oral pan-ROCK inhibitor for pulmonary hypertension), Capsida Biotherapeutics (engineered AAV gene therapy capsids for CNS and ocular diseases), Neuron23 (LRRK2 and TYK2 kinase inhibitors for Parkinson's disease and neuroimmunology), Latigo Biotherapeutics (Nav1.8 inhibitors for non-opioid pain), Electra Therapeutics (ipsoprubart SIRP-targeted antibody for sHLH and lymphoma), ACELYRIN (izokibep IL-17A inhibitor and lonigutamab anti-IGF-1R), Arsenal Biosciences (programmable CAR T-cell therapies for solid tumors), 3T Biosciences (TCR-T and bispecific T-cell engagers), Borealis Biosciences (RNA therapeutics), Dantari (targeted therapeutics), and Kate Therapeutics (acquired by Novartis, muscle/heart-targeted gene therapy). Westlake's value proposition to founders is "The Westlake Way": put people first, take a village approach, see it through, be engaged, and orient around patients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Westlake BioPartners Private Investment Funds
• Biotech Company Incubation and Company-Building Service ("The Westlake Way")

Quantifiable outcome

• $2.0 billion potential deal value from Incyte acquisition of Star Therapeutics' Vega subsidiary (June 2026)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• Incyte CorporationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Incyte entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Vega Therapeutics (wholly owned subsidiary of Westlake-backed Star Therapeutics) for $1.25 billion upfront plus up to $750 million in sales-based milestones; transaction expected to close Q3 2026 subject to Hart-Scott-Rodino review. VGA039 (anti-Protein S monoclonal antibody) is in Phase 3 VIVID-6 development for von Willebrand disease.
• Eli Lilly and CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2026Strategic equity investor in Recludix Pharma's January 2026 financing round (alongside Access Biotechnology, Alexandria Venture Investments, NEA, and Westlake BioPartners). Separately, Recludix was selected by Eli Lilly to access the Lilly TuneLab AI/ML platform to accelerate its SH2 domain inhibitor discovery pipeline — a combination of capital + technology partnership.
• SanoficoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2026Strategic development and commercialization partner for Recludix Pharma's STAT6 inhibitors (including REX-8756/SAR448755). Sanofi holds global rights to small molecule STAT6 inhibitors developed under the partnership; Recludix has option to participate in 50% U.S. profit/loss share. Recludix has received $145 million in milestone payments and is eligible for more than $1.2 billion in potential milestones plus double-digit royalties. Sanofi Ventures also co-led Star Therapeutics' $125M Series D (Sept 2025).
• Sanofi VenturesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 2025Co-led Star Therapeutics' $125M Series D alongside Viking Global Investors; Managing Director Jason Hafler, Ph.D., joined Star's board of directors.
• QIAGEN (Neuron23 collaboration)supportingTechnology or Integration · 24 June 2025Westlake-backed Neuron23 announced collaboration with QIAGEN to develop the first next-generation sequencing companion diagnostic for Neuron23's LRRK2 inhibitor for Parkinson's disease (Sept 2022); Neuron23 also announced usage of Roche's digital biomarker and device in Parkinson's disease Phase 2 NEULARK clinical trial of NEU-411.
• NovartismajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2024Acquired Westlake-backed Kate Therapeutics to enhance and strengthen Novartis' strategic priorities in gene therapy and neuroscience innovation.
• Bristol-Myers SquibbmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 September 2024Multi-year $70 million discovery collaboration with Westlake-backed Arsenal Biosciences (Jan 2021) to advance next-generation T cell therapies for solid tumors; BMS also participated as existing investor in ArsenalBio's $325 million Series C financing (Sept 2024).
• Astellas PharmamajorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 8 June 2023Granted Astellas Pharma an exclusive, worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialize KT430 (Kate Therapeutics' lead program) to treat X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM), announced concurrent with Kate Therapeutics' $51M Series A co-led by Westlake Village BioPartners and Versant Ventures.
• Gilead Sciences / Kite PharmamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 December 2022Kite (a Gilead company) signed a definitive agreement to acquire Westlake-backed Tmunity Therapeutics, a clinical-stage private biotech focused on next-generation CAR T-therapies. Acquisition complemented Kite's in-house cell therapy research capabilities with additional pipeline assets, platform capabilities, and a strategic research and licensing agreement with the University of Pennsylvania.
• GenentechmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 September 2022$70 million multi-year collaboration with Westlake-backed Arsenal Biosciences to advance next-generation CAR T-cell therapies for solid tumors.
• AbbViemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2021Multi-year strategic collaboration and option agreement with Capsida Biotherapeutics providing $90 million in upfront and equity investment capital, in addition to potential future option, development and commercial milestone payments; aimed at developing best-in-class, targeted gene therapies for three programs in serious neurodegenerative diseases. In January 2025, AbbVie opted in for the first genetic medicine program from this collaboration (Capsida to receive $40M license payment plus milestones and royalties).

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Versant Ventures: Boutique biotech-focused venture firm that co-founded Capsida (2019), co-led Kate Therapeutics' Series A, and co-led AllRock Bio's Series A alongside Westlake. Directly comparable in stage, modality breadth (gene therapy, antibodies, cell therapy), and incubation-style investing.
• 5AM Ventures: Early-stage biotech VC that co-led Latigo Biotherapeutics' $135M Series A with Westlake. Closely comparable in check size, stage, therapeutic breadth, and operator-driven model.
• Foresite Capital: Healthcare-focused VC that co-led Latigo's Series A with Westlake; comparable in life sciences concentration, AUM scale, and Series A leadership approach.
• Atlas Venture: Long-running early-stage biotech venture firm with a comparable "build a company around an entrepreneur" incubation model, similar AUM scale, and overlapping therapeutic focus (immuno, oncology, neuro, rare disease).
• Third Rock Ventures: Pioneering biotech company-creation firm with a comparable "build company around concept and operator" model and similar AUM scale; major overlap in therapeutic area focus and stage.
• Canaan Partners: Generalist VC with a dedicated healthcare/biotech practice that co-led Vedana Therapeutics' $46M Series A with Westlake. Directly comparable in Series A leadership in therapeutics.

Broad incumbents

• ARCH Venture Partners: Large, established biotech VC that co-invested in ArsenalBio's Series C alongside Westlake; comparable in early-stage therapeutics investing but operates at materially larger AUM scale and broader portfolio.
• RA Capital Management: Crossover/healthcare-focused fund that participated alongside Westlake in Star Therapeutics' Series D and Expansion Therapeutics' Series B. Comparable in life sciences concentration but with materially larger AUM and broader stage range.
• Flagship Pioneering: Largest biotech origination/incubation platform (creator of Moderna); comparable in incubation-led biotech model but operates at vastly larger AUM scale and with in-house origination rather than VC syndication.
• OrbiMed Advisors: Healthcare-dedicated investment firm (private equity, credit, royalties) that participated in Star Therapeutics' Series D alongside Westlake. Overlaps in biotech venture but with much broader investment mandates and AUM.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/biowestlake
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/westlake-village-biopartners

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments37 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Westlake Village BioPartners