Top 12 Colorectal cancer treatment startups

Updated: Apr 17, 2026
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These startups develop new colorectal cancer treatments and diagnostics technologies, such as robot-assisted surgery, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, stereotactic body radiation therapy, cryotherapy, photodynamic therapy.
1
D3 Bio
Country: China | Funding: $370M
D3 Bio specializes in the development of innovative immunotherapies in oncology and immunology. The company's lead drug, elisrasib, is a next-generation KRAS G12C inhibitor that is being studied as a potential monotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer and metastatic colorectal cancer, as well as in combination with Merck KGaA's Erbitux anticancer drug or with immune checkpoint inhibitors. The company's pipeline includes clinical trials against mut cancers, CRC, PanCa, breast cancer, gastric cancer, bladder cancer and other solid tumors.
2
Exact Sciences
Country: USA | Funding: $2.8B
Exact Sciences creates noninvasive screening tests for the early detection of cancer. The company's flagship product, Cologuard test, uses a biomarker panel that analyzes a stool sample for 10 DNA markers, as well as fecal blood (hemoglobin). It detects colon cancer even in its early stages, when it is more treatable. The test can be administered at home without special training. Cologuard includes a built-in patient management program with support. The test is based on proprietary QuARTS (quantitative allele-specific amplification of target and real-time signal) technology, which efficiently amplifies and quantifies two distinct methylated DNA markers (NDRG4 and BMP3), as well as seven different point mutations of the KRAS gene. The beta-actin gene (ACTB) serves as a reference marker for quantifying the total amount of human DNA in each sample.
3
Freenome
Country: USA | Funding: $1.5B
Freenome has developed blood test for colorectal cancer detection based on artificial intelligence. Freenome's technology combines computational biology, machine learning and various data types to detect the most subtle signs of cancer, even in the earliest stages. In addition to colon cancer, the company is developing a test for lung cancer detection. Acquired by Perceptive Capital Solutions
4
Kura Oncology
Country: USA | Funding: $1.2B
Kura Oncology develops precision small-molecule drugs for treatment of solid tumors and blood cancers. The company discovers and tests new biomarkers of cancer signaling pathways. Kura's flagship drug, COMZIFTI, is approved for the treatment of adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) gene mutation whose AML has relapsed or failed to improve after previous treatment and who have no other satisfactory treatment options. The company's pipeline also includes clinical trials for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors, renal cell carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
5
Lyell Immunopharma
Country: USA | Funding: $543M
Lyell Immunopharma is developing a CAR-T cell therapy for colorectal cancer. The therapy targets tumors expressing the guanylate cyclase-C (GCC) protein receptor. GCC is expressed in more than 95% of colorectal cancer cases and in most cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Lyell's genetic reprogramming technologies aim to slow T-cell depletion and generate more potent T-cells with enhanced, sustained anti-tumor activity in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.
6
Artios Pharma
Country: UK | Funding: $414M
Artios develops a pipeline of DNA damage response (DDR)-targeting cancer prospects, that is based on the idea that tumor cells use DDR pathways to manage DNA damage. By inhibiting key components of the DDR, a DDR inhibitor can kill cancerous cells while skipping healthy ones. Company's lead candidate, alnodesertib (DNA polymerase theta inhibitor) is intenede to treat pancreatic cancer, breast and third-line colorectal cancer. It has demonstrated durable responses in patients with eight different solid tumor types whose tumors had ATM deficiency. Artios’ pipeline also features a DDR inhibitor antibody-drug conjugate (DDR-ADC) discovery program
7
Alaunos Therapeutics
Country: USA | Funding: $337M
Alaunos Therapeutics develops immunotherapies for cancer treatment using novel TCR-derived T cells. These cell therapies target neoantigens (neoAgs) arising from genomic mutations in solid tumors. The company has developed proprietary, rapid and cost-effective solutions for the delivery of tumor-specific killer T cells. Alaunos' clinical TCR library targets the most common mutations in the KRAS, TP53 and EGFR genes, which are prevalent in gastrointestinal (colon, bile duct, pancreatic), lung and gynecologic (ovarian and endometrial) cancers across a range of different HLA alleles. Company's propriety non-viral Sleeping Beauty transposon/transposase system is used to introduce the TCR gene into the patient's autologous T cells. Alaunos's current pipeline includes clinical trials against lung, colorectal, pancreatic and ovarian cancers.
8
Enterome
Country: France | Funding: $219.7M
Enterome develops breakthrough immunomodulatory drugs for cancer treatment – ​​OncoMimics peptides – based on the interaction between the gut microbiome and the immune system. The company's candidates target a wide range of tumor types (glioblastoma, adrenal tumors, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and colorectal cancer). OncoMimics are a specific combination of bacterial peptides derived from bacteria present in the gut microbiome that precisely mimic either overexpressed tumor-associated antigens or specific markers in solid and liquid tumors, respectively. The company has developed a drug discovery platform that enables the analysis of the world's largest microbiome protein database and the creation of new drugs.
9
Ayala Pharmaceuticals
Country: Israel | Funding: $72M
Ayala Pharmaceuticals develops a personalized treatment for cancer.
10
Iksuda Therapeutics
Country: UK | Funding: $52M
Iksuda Therapeutics develops ADCs with enhanced tumor specificity. They incorporate tumor-specific, selective release and activation of payloads through mechanisms relevant to the target and tumor, thereby optimizing anticancer efficacy and improving patient safety. The company has also developed a new class of alkylating protein payloads, ProAlk. With their tailored properties to specific ADCs and broad applicability across various tumor types, Iksuda is currently developing a new ProAlk-ADC portfolio. The company's portfolio includes clinical trials against B-cell malignancies, breast cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, head and neck cancer, colorectal cancer and cervical cancer.
11
Belong
Country: USA | Funding: $40M
Belong is the world’s largest social network for cancer patients and caregivers. The Belong app provides people with cancer and their families a unique and innovative personalized solution to help manage and fight cancer more effectively.
12
CaroGen
Country: USA | Funding: $11.4M
CaroGen Corporation is an immunotherapy company employing a virus-like vesicle (VLV) platform technology. CaroGen develops vaccine candidates targeting hepatitis B and C, and other viral agents.
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Jason Kwon
Editor: Jason Kwon
Jason Kwon is a senior editor for MedicalStartups. He has previously covered the pharmaceutical and medical research industries for FDAnews and worked as a head of marketing for medical startup Sonic Therapeutics. Before that, he co-founded a startup consulting business for emerging entrepreneurial hubs in Asia. Jason graduated from St. Bonaventure University’s journalism school. In his free time, Jason enjoys yoga, watching movie trailers, traveling to places where he can't get cell service. You can contact Jason at jaskwon(at)medicalstartups(dot)com