Decheng Capital, an investment firm, led a $85m Series C round in Aardvark Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, with participation from Cormorant Asset Management, Surveyor Capital, SymBiosis, Tetragon Financial Group, Walleye Capital, Laurion Capital Management, LG Technology Ventures, Cantor Ventures, Silver Arc Private Capital, The Prader-Willi Syndrome Association USA and Vickers Venture Partners. "We believe our lead compound, ARD-101, is a well-differentiated first-in-class drug candidate that is orthogonal and complementary to existing obesity drugs and reduces hunger through the selective induction of gut-brain signaling. The novel mechanism of action and gut-restricted nature of ARD-101 contribute to its encouraging safety and tolerability profile, as well as its broad-spectrum of activity. We are excited that our new and existing investors share our vision of ARD-101's potential therapeutic impact and the relevance of TAS2R receptors as unique pharmaceutical targets," Tien Lee, Aardvark Therapeutics CEO.