1
Country: Norway | Funding: $13.1M
Zelluna Immunotherapy is developing a unique and proprietary TCR-NK cell therapy platform for the treatment of cancer. The therapy utilizes human (donor) natural killer (NK) cells, driven by T-cell receptors (TCRs), which are administered to patients. TCRs provide precise targeting of cancer cells and enable NK cells to find and destroy cancer cells within the patient's body. Zelluna's development pipeline targets a combination of clinically or preclinically validated antigens expressed in a broad range of solid tumors, providing high potential for patient impact and a significant market opportunity. The company's undergoing clinical trials include the following indications: NSCLC, ovarian cancer, sarcoma, breast cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, cervical cancer.
Zelluna Immunotherapy is developing a unique and proprietary TCR-NK cell therapy platform for the treatment of cancer. The therapy utilizes human (donor) natural killer (NK) cells, driven by T-cell receptors (TCRs), which are administered to patients. TCRs provide precise targeting of cancer cells and enable NK cells to find and destroy cancer cells within the patient's body. Zelluna's development pipeline targets a combination of clinically or preclinically validated antigens expressed in a broad range of solid tumors, providing high potential for patient impact and a significant market opportunity. The company's undergoing clinical trials include the following indications: NSCLC, ovarian cancer, sarcoma, breast cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, cervical cancer.
2
Country: UK | Funding: $50M
Enara Bio develops targeted cancer immunotherapies using its Dark Antigen discovery engine and optimized T-cell activator platform. Dark Antigens cluster - is a rich source of novel cancer targets derived from genomic regions previously considered "dark" or non-coding. The EDAPT platform helps to identify these dark targets. The company has also developed EnTiCE platform for creating bispecific T-cell activators against these identified targets to improve treatment outcomes for a wide range of cancer patients. Enara Bio's pipeline includes clinical trials against solid tumors, non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, and ovarian cancer. The startup is backed by leading biotech investors, including RA Capital, Pfizer Ventures, M Ventures, Samsara BioCapital, and SV Health Investors.
Enara Bio develops targeted cancer immunotherapies using its Dark Antigen discovery engine and optimized T-cell activator platform. Dark Antigens cluster - is a rich source of novel cancer targets derived from genomic regions previously considered "dark" or non-coding. The EDAPT platform helps to identify these dark targets. The company has also developed EnTiCE platform for creating bispecific T-cell activators against these identified targets to improve treatment outcomes for a wide range of cancer patients. Enara Bio's pipeline includes clinical trials against solid tumors, non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, and ovarian cancer. The startup is backed by leading biotech investors, including RA Capital, Pfizer Ventures, M Ventures, Samsara BioCapital, and SV Health Investors.
3
Country: USA | Funding: $15.2M
BioVaxys develops immunotherapeutic cancer vaccines targeting lymphoma and ovarian cancer. The company develops them using its proprietary DPX delivery platform. Unlike conventional emulsions or lipid nanoparticles that release their contents systemically, DPX is fully synthetic and compatible with peptides, proteins, mRNA, virus-like particles and small molecules. It is ideal for mRNA delivery, remaining localized at the injection site with superior stability compared to LDL. Maveropepimute-S, the company's lead clinical drug based on this platform, demonstrated an overall response rate of 21% and a disease control rate of 63% in recurrent ovarian cancer. In relapsed/refractory DLBL, the combination of MVP-S and Keytruda achieved complete remission in 3 of 6 evaluable patients. This means that no detectable cancer cells remained after treatment.
BioVaxys develops immunotherapeutic cancer vaccines targeting lymphoma and ovarian cancer. The company develops them using its proprietary DPX delivery platform. Unlike conventional emulsions or lipid nanoparticles that release their contents systemically, DPX is fully synthetic and compatible with peptides, proteins, mRNA, virus-like particles and small molecules. It is ideal for mRNA delivery, remaining localized at the injection site with superior stability compared to LDL. Maveropepimute-S, the company's lead clinical drug based on this platform, demonstrated an overall response rate of 21% and a disease control rate of 63% in recurrent ovarian cancer. In relapsed/refractory DLBL, the combination of MVP-S and Keytruda achieved complete remission in 3 of 6 evaluable patients. This means that no detectable cancer cells remained after treatment.
4
Country: USA | Funding: $1.3B
Fate Therapeutics develops clinical drug candidates for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer using its propriety iPSCs platform (induced pluripotent stem cells). These cell therapies are selectively engineered and provide novel synthetic mechanisms for regulating cellular function. The company utilizes iPSC master cell lines to generate immune system cells, including NK cells, T cells and CD34+ cells and is developing a portfolio of ready-to-use cellular immunotherapy products for the treatment of solid tumors (particularly lung, pancreatic and ovarian cancer). FT819, its first iPSC-derived CAR T-cell product candidate, demonstrates potent, dose-dependent B-cell killing comparable to that of autologous primary CAR T cells in in-vitro cytotoxicity assay using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in SLE.
Fate Therapeutics develops clinical drug candidates for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer using its propriety iPSCs platform (induced pluripotent stem cells). These cell therapies are selectively engineered and provide novel synthetic mechanisms for regulating cellular function. The company utilizes iPSC master cell lines to generate immune system cells, including NK cells, T cells and CD34+ cells and is developing a portfolio of ready-to-use cellular immunotherapy products for the treatment of solid tumors (particularly lung, pancreatic and ovarian cancer). FT819, its first iPSC-derived CAR T-cell product candidate, demonstrates potent, dose-dependent B-cell killing comparable to that of autologous primary CAR T cells in in-vitro cytotoxicity assay using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in SLE.
5
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.
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.
6
Country: USA | Funding: $253.7M
Imvax develops personalized immunotherapeutic cancer vaccines against glioblastoma and other solid tumors that are created from the patient's own tumor cells. Imvax's Goldspire platform delivers a combo of patient-derived tumor cells and an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (IMV-001) against the insulin-like growth factor receptor type 1 (IGF-1R). This combination is loaded into implantable, proprietary biodiffusion chambers. This technology is designed to provide both innate and adaptive immune stimulation to overcome the challenges associated with the variability of solid tumors and their ability to suppress the immune system. Imvax is developing a diverse portfolio of drugs against glioblastoma, endometrial cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, urothelial cancer and ovarian cancer.
Imvax develops personalized immunotherapeutic cancer vaccines against glioblastoma and other solid tumors that are created from the patient's own tumor cells. Imvax's Goldspire platform delivers a combo of patient-derived tumor cells and an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (IMV-001) against the insulin-like growth factor receptor type 1 (IGF-1R). This combination is loaded into implantable, proprietary biodiffusion chambers. This technology is designed to provide both innate and adaptive immune stimulation to overcome the challenges associated with the variability of solid tumors and their ability to suppress the immune system. Imvax is developing a diverse portfolio of drugs against glioblastoma, endometrial cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, urothelial cancer and ovarian cancer.
7
Country: Denmark | Funding: $249.6M
ADCendo develops antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of cancers with high unmet medical needs. The company is developing two technologies: ADCE-T02, which combines an optimized monoclonal antibody targeting tissue factor (overexpressed in numerous solid tumor indications) with a next-generation linker and exatecan delivery technology, providing higher efficacy and improved tolerability. The second candidate is ADCE-D01 - a first-in-class ADC targeting uPARAP, an endocytic receptor overexpressed in a wide range of mesenchymal tumors, including soft tissue sarcomas, osteosarcoma, GISTs, mesothelioma and glioblastoma.
ADCendo develops antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of cancers with high unmet medical needs. The company is developing two technologies: ADCE-T02, which combines an optimized monoclonal antibody targeting tissue factor (overexpressed in numerous solid tumor indications) with a next-generation linker and exatecan delivery technology, providing higher efficacy and improved tolerability. The second candidate is ADCE-D01 - a first-in-class ADC targeting uPARAP, an endocytic receptor overexpressed in a wide range of mesenchymal tumors, including soft tissue sarcomas, osteosarcoma, GISTs, mesothelioma and glioblastoma.
8
Country: USA | Funding: $244.4M
InterVenn Biosciences is a liquid biopsy company pioneering the development of clinically useful glycoproteomic diagnostics. It has combined the molecular resolution of mass spectrometry with the power of artificial intelligence to create a unique platform for discovering new biomarkers, providing more effective treatments, developing precision medicine clinical trials, and identifying new targets. The company has also developed GlcyoKnow Ovarian, a laboratory test for assessing the risk of malignancy in confirmed pelvic lesions prior to planned surgery. It complements imaging data and clinical assessment, facilitating more informed and personalized treatment decisions.
InterVenn Biosciences is a liquid biopsy company pioneering the development of clinically useful glycoproteomic diagnostics. It has combined the molecular resolution of mass spectrometry with the power of artificial intelligence to create a unique platform for discovering new biomarkers, providing more effective treatments, developing precision medicine clinical trials, and identifying new targets. The company has also developed GlcyoKnow Ovarian, a laboratory test for assessing the risk of malignancy in confirmed pelvic lesions prior to planned surgery. It complements imaging data and clinical assessment, facilitating more informed and personalized treatment decisions.
9
Country: USA | Funding: $18.8M
4D Path develops QPOR platform, designed to directly measure and quantify cell cycle abnormalities and tumor microenvironment dynamics to predict patient response to therapy. It uses hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained biopsy images to instantly uncover hidden data, enabling biomarker profiling and stratification. While the company initially focuses on breast cancer, it is actively developing products for ovarian cancer, cervical cytology, skin cancer, and, more broadly, immunotherapy for various cancer types.
4D Path develops QPOR platform, designed to directly measure and quantify cell cycle abnormalities and tumor microenvironment dynamics to predict patient response to therapy. It uses hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained biopsy images to instantly uncover hidden data, enabling biomarker profiling and stratification. While the company initially focuses on breast cancer, it is actively developing products for ovarian cancer, cervical cytology, skin cancer, and, more broadly, immunotherapy for various cancer types.
10
Country: USA | Funding: $120K
Tradewind BioScience is a biotechnology company developing antibody therapeutics for ovarian cancer.
Tradewind BioScience is a biotechnology company developing antibody therapeutics for ovarian cancer.
11
Country: Australia
Amplia Therapeutics develops focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitors for the treatment of pancreatic and ovarian cancer. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is expressed in many types of cancer, where it maintains cell viability and stimulates cell growth and migration. Amplia's lead drug candidate, narmafotinib, is a highly selective and potent FAK inhibitor that has shown promising results in pancreatic cancer research. FAK inhibitors act on both the cancer cells themselves and surrounding tissue, making current and future treatments more vulnerable and responsive. Amplia has orphan drug designation, fast-track designation and an open application for pancreatic cancer treatment from the US FDA.
Amplia Therapeutics develops focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitors for the treatment of pancreatic and ovarian cancer. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is expressed in many types of cancer, where it maintains cell viability and stimulates cell growth and migration. Amplia's lead drug candidate, narmafotinib, is a highly selective and potent FAK inhibitor that has shown promising results in pancreatic cancer research. FAK inhibitors act on both the cancer cells themselves and surrounding tissue, making current and future treatments more vulnerable and responsive. Amplia has orphan drug designation, fast-track designation and an open application for pancreatic cancer treatment from the US FDA.
