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: Israel | Funding: $33.1M
Starget Pharma is developing a somatostatin-based targeted cancer therapy platform. It combines therapeutic drugs with radioactive isotopes, minimizing damage to healthy tissue. One of the key advantages of this approach is the use of the same molecular platform for both diagnosis and treatment: first, the molecule is administered along with a diagnostic isotope to assess tumor uptake using imaging. If imaging confirms strong tumor uptake, the same molecule is combined with a more potent therapeutic isotope to deliver targeted therapy. The own AI platform enables faster discovery and development of highly accurate radiopharmaceuticals. The company is conducting clinical trials of this technology for the treatment of sarcoma, skin cancer, liver cancer and neuroendocrine tumors.
Starget Pharma is developing a somatostatin-based targeted cancer therapy platform. It combines therapeutic drugs with radioactive isotopes, minimizing damage to healthy tissue. One of the key advantages of this approach is the use of the same molecular platform for both diagnosis and treatment: first, the molecule is administered along with a diagnostic isotope to assess tumor uptake using imaging. If imaging confirms strong tumor uptake, the same molecule is combined with a more potent therapeutic isotope to deliver targeted therapy. The own AI platform enables faster discovery and development of highly accurate radiopharmaceuticals. The company is conducting clinical trials of this technology for the treatment of sarcoma, skin cancer, liver cancer and neuroendocrine tumors.
3
Country: USA | Funding: $146.5M
CancerVax is developing a new bispecific antibody vaccine for the treatment of recurrent Ewing sarcoma. This therapeutic vaccine can target and attach to Ewing sarcoma cancer cells, recruiting the body's natural killer T cells to the tumor to destroy it; hence the name "bispecific." In extensive laboratory cell studies, several candidates demonstrated significant T-cell killing of Ewing sarcoma cells, meaning the vaccine was doing its job of recruiting T cells to the tumor cells for destruction. The company also has candidates for the treatment of pancreatic and liver cancer.
CancerVax is developing a new bispecific antibody vaccine for the treatment of recurrent Ewing sarcoma. This therapeutic vaccine can target and attach to Ewing sarcoma cancer cells, recruiting the body's natural killer T cells to the tumor to destroy it; hence the name "bispecific." In extensive laboratory cell studies, several candidates demonstrated significant T-cell killing of Ewing sarcoma cells, meaning the vaccine was doing its job of recruiting T cells to the tumor cells for destruction. The company also has candidates for the treatment of pancreatic and liver cancer.
4
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.
5
Country: USA
Tezcat Biosciences develops therapy that targets the rat sarcoma (RAS) mutation. RAS is the most common kind of oncogene, a gene that causes cancer when mutated, but it’s difficult to treat because it lacks binding pockets for drugs. Instead of trying to inhibit RAS directly, Tezcat’s technology targets the bulk nutrient-scavenging process these cancer cells rely on for survival. It delivers a therapeutic payload by turning the cancer’s own feeding mechanism into a Trojan horse.
Tezcat Biosciences develops therapy that targets the rat sarcoma (RAS) mutation. RAS is the most common kind of oncogene, a gene that causes cancer when mutated, but it’s difficult to treat because it lacks binding pockets for drugs. Instead of trying to inhibit RAS directly, Tezcat’s technology targets the bulk nutrient-scavenging process these cancer cells rely on for survival. It delivers a therapeutic payload by turning the cancer’s own feeding mechanism into a Trojan horse.
6
Country: USA
KiraGen Bio develops off-shelf, multiplex-edited cell therapies that improve CAR-T technology for treating solid tumors. The company says that solid tumors suppress immune CAR-T cells in their microenvironment and its TME-Guards technology protects CAR-T cells - allows them to completely ignore suppressive signals from the tumor microenvironment by disabling the corresponding receptors. This ensures safer treatment, avoiding dose increases and immune cell over-activation. The company is conducting clinical trials of its drugs against glioblastoma, glioma, and sarcoma.
KiraGen Bio develops off-shelf, multiplex-edited cell therapies that improve CAR-T technology for treating solid tumors. The company says that solid tumors suppress immune CAR-T cells in their microenvironment and its TME-Guards technology protects CAR-T cells - allows them to completely ignore suppressive signals from the tumor microenvironment by disabling the corresponding receptors. This ensures safer treatment, avoiding dose increases and immune cell over-activation. The company is conducting clinical trials of its drugs against glioblastoma, glioma, and sarcoma.
7
Country: Finland
Targeted therapy for rare gastrointestinal cancer, GIST based on a discovery of novel drug targets in cancer and drug repositioning.
Targeted therapy for rare gastrointestinal cancer, GIST based on a discovery of novel drug targets in cancer and drug repositioning.
