The startup develops chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapies that precisely target cancer antigens, enhancing the therapeutic window for treating various cancers, including solid tumors. By creating a pipeline of autologous and allogeneic universal reprogrammable T cell products, the company aims to expand treatment options for hard-to-treat cancers.
Funding
$177.8M 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.
Founders
Product
Problem
Current CAR-T cell therapies face challenges in precisely targeting cancer cells, leading to potential off-target effects and a narrow therapeutic window, especially in solid tumors. Autologous CAR-T cell therapies are also limited by manufacturing complexities and patient-specific variability, while allogeneic approaches can trigger immune rejection.
Solution
AvenCell is developing next-generation immunotherapies featuring universal switchable CAR-T cells designed to overcome the limitations of existing CAR-T therapies. Their allogeneic platform uses a switchable on/off mechanism, combining a universal effector cell with soluble targeting modules (TMs) for precise targeting of cancer antigens. This approach aims to enhance the therapeutic window by reducing the risk of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and other side effects, while maintaining high anti-tumor activity and preventing T-effector cell exhaustion. The switchable CAR technology allows for controlled CAR-T reactivity, improving safety and efficacy in treating hard-to-treat cancers.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes patients with hard-to-treat cancers, as well as oncologists and medical centers seeking more effective and safer CAR-T cell therapy options.
Features
- Universal switchable CAR platform enabling precise targeting of cancer antigens
- Allogeneic cell source to reduce manufacturing complexities and improve scalability
- Soluble targeting modules (TMs) that can be switched on or off to control CAR-T cell activity
- Enhanced safety profile with reduced risk of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and other off-target effects
- Proprietary platforms designed to prevent T-effector cell exhaustion and immune suppression