Essex Woodlands leads $40.4mm Series C round for Catalyst

First-time investor Essex Woodlands led the $40.4mm Series C financing for Catalyst Biosciences (redesigns proteases--called Alterases--that target disease-causing proteins). Returning backers Burrill & Co., HealthCare Ventures, Johnson & Johnson Development Corp., Morgenthaler Ventures, Novartis BioVentures, and Sofinnova Ventures also participated. A managing director from Essex joined the company's board. Catalyst says it will now have enough money to support its activities for the next few years, including moving its CB813 Factor VIIa treatment for hemophilia (currently at the preclinical stage) through Phase I/II proof-of-concept studies.