Cellis is a European biotech company that has created a Macrophage‑Drug Conjugate (MDC) platform, using native allogeneic macrophages to deliver therapeutic payloads directly into solid tumors via its TRAIN release mechanism. The approach aims to improve specificity, tumor penetration, and reduce off‑target toxicity, offering a low‑toxicity, cell‑based delivery solution for pharmaceutical and biotech partners developing oncology therapies.
Funding
$8.3M 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 therapies for solid tumors often suffer from poor specificity, limited penetration into hypoxic tumor regions, and significant off‑target toxicity, leading to inadequate treatment efficacy and resistance.
Solution
Cellis has developed a Macrophage‑Drug Conjugate (MDC) platform that harnesses the natural tumor‑homing ability of macrophages to deliver a wide range of therapeutic payloads directly into cancer cells. The platform exploits the TRAnsfer of Iron‑binding proteiN (TRAIN) mechanism, enabling rapid unloading of the drug complex within the tumor microenvironment and efficient cytoplasmic delivery. By using unmodified, allogeneic macrophages, the approach avoids the complexities of genetic engineering and reduces logistical barriers associated with cell‑based therapies. Preclinical studies have demonstrated tumor shrinkage, increased survival, and reduced metastasis across multiple solid‑tumor models. Cellis plans to initiate first‑in‑human clinical trials in late 2026, aiming to provide a targeted, low‑toxicity treatment option for patients with high unmet medical need.
Target Audience
Primary customers are pharmaceutical and biotech companies developing oncology therapeutics, as well as academic and clinical research groups seeking advanced cell‑based delivery platforms for solid‑tumor indications.
Features
- Utilizes native macrophages as delivery vehicles, leveraging their innate tumor‑infiltrating properties
- TRAIN mechanism enables precise, rapid release of drug payloads into the cytoplasm of cancer cells
- Supports a broad spectrum of payloads, including immunomodulators, cytotoxics, radioisotopes, and peptides
- Allogeneic, non‑genetically modified cell product simplifies manufacturing and distribution
- Demonstrated preclinical efficacy with tumor reduction, survival benefit, and metastasis inhibition in solid‑tumor models
- Platform addresses key limitations of existing therapies: specificity, tumor penetration, and off‑target toxicity