Asher Bio develops cis-targeted immunotherapies designed to selectively activate specific immune cell types for therapeutic benefit. This platform engages two molecules on the same cell to achieve high selectivity, optimizing efficacy while minimizing off-target toxicity. The lead candidate is a cis-targeted IL-2 therapy specifically activating CD8+ effector T cells.
Funding
$218.2M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
A+2Founders
Product
Problem
Conventional immunotherapies often activate multiple types of immune cells indiscriminately, leading to suboptimal efficacy and significant side effects. This lack of specificity limits the therapeutic window and can result in systemic toxicity.
Solution
Asher Bio is developing cis-targeted immunotherapies that selectively activate CD8+ effector T cells by engaging specific molecules on the same immune cell. This approach enhances therapeutic efficacy while minimizing off-target effects. Their cis-targeting platform directs the therapy to the desired immune cell type, activating the immunomodulatory receptor only when the targeted antigen is present on the same cell. This new level of selectivity optimizes efficacy and minimizes toxicity. The lead molecule in their pipeline, AB248, a cis-targeted IL-2, has demonstrated initial evidence of anti-tumor activity with a well-tolerated safety profile in an ongoing Phase 1a/1b clinical trial.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes patients with solid tumors and hematological malignancies who may benefit from more effective and less toxic immunotherapeutic interventions.
Features
- Cis-targeted immunotherapy platform for selective activation of CD8+ effector T cells
- AB248: a cis-targeted IL-2 molecule in Phase 1 clinical trials
- Targets two molecules on the same immune cell: an immunomodulatory receptor and a specific target
- Optimized efficacy and minimized toxicity compared to conventional immunotherapies