1
Country: Sweden | Funding: SEK213.5M
Oncorena is developing a new treatment for metastatic kidney cancer based on orellanine - toxin from the Cortinarius mushroom family that exhibits potent cytotoxic activity in kidney cells. The company's candidate, ONC175, is a synthetic orellanine that is administered intravenously and actively and selectively penetrates kidney cancer cells. Preclinical studies have shown that the drug targets kidneys and kidney-derived cancer cells through highly specific uptake. The molecular mechanism of uptake was identified as the presence of solute transporters expressed almost exclusively on kidney cancer cells and renal proximal tubule cells. The company is currently conducting clinical trials of the drug.
Oncorena is developing a new treatment for metastatic kidney cancer based on orellanine - toxin from the Cortinarius mushroom family that exhibits potent cytotoxic activity in kidney cells. The company's candidate, ONC175, is a synthetic orellanine that is administered intravenously and actively and selectively penetrates kidney cancer cells. Preclinical studies have shown that the drug targets kidneys and kidney-derived cancer cells through highly specific uptake. The molecular mechanism of uptake was identified as the presence of solute transporters expressed almost exclusively on kidney cancer cells and renal proximal tubule cells. The company is currently conducting clinical trials of the drug.
2
Country: USA | Funding: $109M
Neomorph develops "molecular glue" technology for binding drugs to tumor cell proteins and degrading these proteins to treat so far inaccessible targets. The company's degraders redirect cellular mechanisms known as E3 ubiquitin ligases to disease-causing proteins, leading to their degradation. This targeted protein degradation destroys the target protein by the 26S proteasome, thereby eliminating all associated biological activity. While heterobifunctional drugs still require a binding pocket on the target protein, "molecular glue" drugs bypass this requirement, thus offering a differentiated approach to drug development with different rules and the potential to target a broad spectrum of the proteome. The company is currently conducting clinical trials of its technology for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma.
Neomorph develops "molecular glue" technology for binding drugs to tumor cell proteins and degrading these proteins to treat so far inaccessible targets. The company's degraders redirect cellular mechanisms known as E3 ubiquitin ligases to disease-causing proteins, leading to their degradation. This targeted protein degradation destroys the target protein by the 26S proteasome, thereby eliminating all associated biological activity. While heterobifunctional drugs still require a binding pocket on the target protein, "molecular glue" drugs bypass this requirement, thus offering a differentiated approach to drug development with different rules and the potential to target a broad spectrum of the proteome. The company is currently conducting clinical trials of its technology for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma.
3
Country: Estonia | Funding: €3.5M
Better Medicine is developing an AI system that helps radiologists identify, measure, and classify kidney tumors on CT scans, enabling earlier and faster cancer detection. The kidney model was trained on anonymized patient CT scans to ensure reliable performance. Clinical studies have shown that radiologists using Better Medicine's software measured tumors 52% faster than those without AI assistance. The study also found that the collaboration between AI and radiologists achieved a remarkable tumor detection rate of 99.2%. The system is already CE marked.
Better Medicine is developing an AI system that helps radiologists identify, measure, and classify kidney tumors on CT scans, enabling earlier and faster cancer detection. The kidney model was trained on anonymized patient CT scans to ensure reliable performance. Clinical studies have shown that radiologists using Better Medicine's software measured tumors 52% faster than those without AI assistance. The study also found that the collaboration between AI and radiologists achieved a remarkable tumor detection rate of 99.2%. The system is already CE marked.
4
Country: USA | Funding: $578.8M
HistoSonics has developed Edison - noninvasive ultrasound therapy platform, which utilizes histotripsy to destroy target liver and kidney tumors at the subcellular level. This is a form of focused ultrasound utilizes high-amplitude, very short pulses to create a "bubble cloud" designed to mechanically disrupt and liquefy target liver tumors. These bubble clouds form and collapse in microseconds, generating mechanical forces strong enough to destroy tissue at the cellular and subcellular levels in a noninvasive and nonthermal manner. The Edison device provides continuous imaging, personalized treatment and physician guidance. Acquired by K5 Global
HistoSonics has developed Edison - noninvasive ultrasound therapy platform, which utilizes histotripsy to destroy target liver and kidney tumors at the subcellular level. This is a form of focused ultrasound utilizes high-amplitude, very short pulses to create a "bubble cloud" designed to mechanically disrupt and liquefy target liver tumors. These bubble clouds form and collapse in microseconds, generating mechanical forces strong enough to destroy tissue at the cellular and subcellular levels in a noninvasive and nonthermal manner. The Edison device provides continuous imaging, personalized treatment and physician guidance. Acquired by K5 Global
5
Country: USA | Funding: $1.6B
IOVANCE Biotherapeutics develops personalized autologous cellular immunotherapies using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). A patient's natural TILs are collected and grown outside the body and then administered to the patient in a single dose. Unlike targeted cell therapies, which act on general antigen targets, IOVANCE TILs are engineered to act on specific neoantigens unique to the patient or tumor. IOVANCE's T-cell-based immunotherapy platform has potential application across multiple solid tumor types. The company has two approved drugs for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and metastatic kidney cancer. The company is also conducting clinical trials for the treatment of cervical cancer, NSCLC, endometrial cancer, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
IOVANCE Biotherapeutics develops personalized autologous cellular immunotherapies using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). A patient's natural TILs are collected and grown outside the body and then administered to the patient in a single dose. Unlike targeted cell therapies, which act on general antigen targets, IOVANCE TILs are engineered to act on specific neoantigens unique to the patient or tumor. IOVANCE's T-cell-based immunotherapy platform has potential application across multiple solid tumor types. The company has two approved drugs for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and metastatic kidney cancer. The company is also conducting clinical trials for the treatment of cervical cancer, NSCLC, endometrial cancer, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
6
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.
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.
7
Country: USA | Funding: $1B
Allogene Therapeutics is working to overcome the limitations of autologous CAR T therapy by creating allogeneic CAR T cell (AlloCAR T) products that utilize T cells from healthy donors. These cells are isolated in a manufacturing facility, engineered to express CAR T cells (that recognize and destroy disease) and genetically modified to limit the autoimmune response when administered to a patient. These cells are then stored for use as needed. The company estimates that a single production cycle is sufficient to treat over 100 patients, significantly reducing the cost of therapy. The company's pipeline includes candidates for large B-cell lymphoma and renal cell carcinoma (ALLO-316 is the first and only allogeneic CAR T cell therapy to show promising results in the treatment of solid tumors). The company operates its own manufacturing complex for clinical and commercial production, analytical testing and distribution of cell products.
Allogene Therapeutics is working to overcome the limitations of autologous CAR T therapy by creating allogeneic CAR T cell (AlloCAR T) products that utilize T cells from healthy donors. These cells are isolated in a manufacturing facility, engineered to express CAR T cells (that recognize and destroy disease) and genetically modified to limit the autoimmune response when administered to a patient. These cells are then stored for use as needed. The company estimates that a single production cycle is sufficient to treat over 100 patients, significantly reducing the cost of therapy. The company's pipeline includes candidates for large B-cell lymphoma and renal cell carcinoma (ALLO-316 is the first and only allogeneic CAR T cell therapy to show promising results in the treatment of solid tumors). The company operates its own manufacturing complex for clinical and commercial production, analytical testing and distribution of cell products.
