1
Country: USA | Funding: $182.3M
Actuate Therapeutics develops molecular drugs for cancer treatment. Its lead drug, elraglusib (a GSK-3 inhibitor), targets multiple molecular pathways in cancer cells involved in promoting tumor growth and developing resistance to traditional anticancer drugs and chemotherapy. Elraglusib is also considered a mediator of antitumor immunity by inhibiting multiple immune checkpoints and regulating immune cell function. Actuate has demonstrated promising results in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, childhood malignancies, metastatic salivary gland carcinoma and melanoma.
Actuate Therapeutics develops molecular drugs for cancer treatment. Its lead drug, elraglusib (a GSK-3 inhibitor), targets multiple molecular pathways in cancer cells involved in promoting tumor growth and developing resistance to traditional anticancer drugs and chemotherapy. Elraglusib is also considered a mediator of antitumor immunity by inhibiting multiple immune checkpoints and regulating immune cell function. Actuate has demonstrated promising results in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, childhood malignancies, metastatic salivary gland carcinoma and melanoma.
2
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.
3
Country: Germany | Funding: $2B
BioNTech is a global leader in mRNA-based immunotherapy. The company was the first to invent and commercialize a COVID-19 vaccine (in partnership with Pfizer). BioNTech is currently developing several personalized immunotherapeutic agents (vaccines) against cancer and infectious diseases, including melanoma, human papillomavirus, non-small cell lung cancer, tuberculosis and malaria. The company's flagship platform, FixVac, enables the creation of ready-to-use mRNA cancer vaccines that can be used off-shelf to a specific indication (fixed-dose vaccines). These vaccines are a fixed combination of unmutated tumor antigens encoded by mRNA, which are frequently expressed in certain types of cancer. The mRNA is delivered using a proprietary RNA-lipoplex delivery system, which is designed to enhance mRNA stability in the body and target antigen-presenting dendritic cells (DCs), the training grounds of our immune system.
BioNTech is a global leader in mRNA-based immunotherapy. The company was the first to invent and commercialize a COVID-19 vaccine (in partnership with Pfizer). BioNTech is currently developing several personalized immunotherapeutic agents (vaccines) against cancer and infectious diseases, including melanoma, human papillomavirus, non-small cell lung cancer, tuberculosis and malaria. The company's flagship platform, FixVac, enables the creation of ready-to-use mRNA cancer vaccines that can be used off-shelf to a specific indication (fixed-dose vaccines). These vaccines are a fixed combination of unmutated tumor antigens encoded by mRNA, which are frequently expressed in certain types of cancer. The mRNA is delivered using a proprietary RNA-lipoplex delivery system, which is designed to enhance mRNA stability in the body and target antigen-presenting dendritic cells (DCs), the training grounds of our immune system.
4
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
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
5
Country: USA | Funding: $86.9M
Vaccinex develops novel therapeutic antibodies for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Its drugs are based on the inhibition of semaphorin SEMA4D - potent biological effector believed to prevent immune infiltration and induce myeloid-derived suppressor cells in tumors, as well as trigger neuroinflammation through reactive gliosis in the brain. The company's lead drug candidate, pepinemab, blocks SEMA4D and has the potential to enhance immune activity against tumors and reprogram underlying pathogenic immune mechanisms that exacerbate damage in chronic neurological diseases such as Asheimer's disease and Huntington's disease. The company is also advancing candidates for the treatment of cervical, pancreatic and lung cancer. Vaccinex uses its proprietary ActivMAb drug discovery platform, which enables the discovery and development of highly selective antibodies with novel mechanisms of action against complex membrane proteins.
Vaccinex develops novel therapeutic antibodies for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Its drugs are based on the inhibition of semaphorin SEMA4D - potent biological effector believed to prevent immune infiltration and induce myeloid-derived suppressor cells in tumors, as well as trigger neuroinflammation through reactive gliosis in the brain. The company's lead drug candidate, pepinemab, blocks SEMA4D and has the potential to enhance immune activity against tumors and reprogram underlying pathogenic immune mechanisms that exacerbate damage in chronic neurological diseases such as Asheimer's disease and Huntington's disease. The company is also advancing candidates for the treatment of cervical, pancreatic and lung cancer. Vaccinex uses its proprietary ActivMAb drug discovery platform, which enables the discovery and development of highly selective antibodies with novel mechanisms of action against complex membrane proteins.
6
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.
7
Country: Israel | Funding: $1B
Novocure is developing a new treatment for solid tumors known as tumor polytherapy (TTFields). TTFields are low-intensity alternating electric fields, particularly at intermediate frequencies that disrupt cancer cell division through physical interaction with key molecules during mitosis. TTFields do significantly affect healthy cells, as they have different properties (including division rate, morphology and electrical properties) compared to cancer cells. The company's TTFields pipeline includes therapies against glioblastoma, metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer. The company also produces FDA-approved portable devices for the treatment of GB and mNSCLC. These devices also work via creating electric fields that can slow or stop cancer cell division.
Novocure is developing a new treatment for solid tumors known as tumor polytherapy (TTFields). TTFields are low-intensity alternating electric fields, particularly at intermediate frequencies that disrupt cancer cell division through physical interaction with key molecules during mitosis. TTFields do significantly affect healthy cells, as they have different properties (including division rate, morphology and electrical properties) compared to cancer cells. The company's TTFields pipeline includes therapies against glioblastoma, metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer. The company also produces FDA-approved portable devices for the treatment of GB and mNSCLC. These devices also work via creating electric fields that can slow or stop cancer cell division.
8
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.
9
Country: Switzerland | Funding: $65.7M
NBE-Therapeutics develops ADCs for the treatment of solid tumors (in particular breast and pancreatic cancers). Its platform enables to develop targeted therapies that have a long-lasting immunological effect and can shrink or even completely eradicate tumors. The company has a portfolio of ADC candidates based on proprietary linker loading and conjugation technologies, which are at various stages of pipeline. The company's technologies enable to find the optimal combination of properties for each target antigen: enzymatic conjugation with the enzyme sortase A, SMAC technology (sortase-mediated antibody conjugation), a highly potent anthracycline-based intercalating toxin that damages DNA (as a payload), novel binding agents for finding any new targets and a mammalian antibody library display system. The company is financially backed by the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund.
NBE-Therapeutics develops ADCs for the treatment of solid tumors (in particular breast and pancreatic cancers). Its platform enables to develop targeted therapies that have a long-lasting immunological effect and can shrink or even completely eradicate tumors. The company has a portfolio of ADC candidates based on proprietary linker loading and conjugation technologies, which are at various stages of pipeline. The company's technologies enable to find the optimal combination of properties for each target antigen: enzymatic conjugation with the enzyme sortase A, SMAC technology (sortase-mediated antibody conjugation), a highly potent anthracycline-based intercalating toxin that damages DNA (as a payload), novel binding agents for finding any new targets and a mammalian antibody library display system. The company is financially backed by the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund.
10
Country: Belgium | Funding: €4M
ElmediX is developing thermotherapy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. This treatment method involves raising the patient's body temperature to 41.5°C for a period of time to strengthen the immune system, suppress tumor growth and enhance sensitivity to other anticancer drugs. Thermotherapy is toxic to cells in a hypoxic, low-pH environment, particularly typical of tumor tissue, due to insufficient blood perfusion. Heat increases permeability and blood flow in the tumor stroma, enhancing oxidative damage to cancer cells and the resorption of anticancer drugs by cancer cells. This enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy and has been demonstrated in several recent clinical trials.
ElmediX is developing thermotherapy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. This treatment method involves raising the patient's body temperature to 41.5°C for a period of time to strengthen the immune system, suppress tumor growth and enhance sensitivity to other anticancer drugs. Thermotherapy is toxic to cells in a hypoxic, low-pH environment, particularly typical of tumor tissue, due to insufficient blood perfusion. Heat increases permeability and blood flow in the tumor stroma, enhancing oxidative damage to cancer cells and the resorption of anticancer drugs by cancer cells. This enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy and has been demonstrated in several recent clinical trials.
11
Country: Spain
Quimatryx develops QTX125, a patented HDAC6 selective inhibitor for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Quimatryx develops QTX125, a patented HDAC6 selective inhibitor for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
