DEM BioPharma develops first-in-class cancer therapeutics focused on novel targets for solid tumors. The company advances a pipeline of proprietary drug candidates through preclinical and clinical development stages. Their work aims to introduce new treatment modalities for difficult-to-treat malignancies.
Funding
$95M 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 cancer immunotherapies do not fully harness the potential of the innate immune system, particularly macrophages and myeloid effector cells, to effectively eliminate tumors. Identifying novel "don't eat me" (DEM) and "eat me" (EM) signals on cancer cells and macrophages remains a challenge, hindering the development of more effective immunotherapeutic strategies.
Solution
DEM Bio is developing immunotherapeutics that target novel DEM and EM signals on cancer cells and macrophages to enhance the innate immune response. The company's proprietary CHoMP™ (Co-culture with Human Myeloid Phagocytes) platform uses inter-cellular CRISPR screening to systematically identify unexplored DEM and EM signals. By modulating these signals, DEM Bio aims to activate macrophages and other myeloid effector cells, enabling them to recognize and eliminate tumors more effectively. This approach seeks to overcome current limitations in cancer immunotherapy by unleashing the full potential of the innate immune system.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes researchers and clinicians focused on immuno-oncology, as well as pharmaceutical companies developing novel cancer immunotherapies.
Features
- CHoMP™ platform: Utilizes co-culture with human myeloid phagocytes for systematic identification of DEM and EM signals.
- Inter-cellular CRISPR screening: Employs tumor cells, primary macrophages, and other innate immune effector cells for unbiased target discovery.
- Focus on macrophage-directed therapies: Develops therapeutics that stimulate macrophages to attack tumors.
- Target identification: Aims to identify novel targets that modulate macrophage activity and enhance tumor cell clearance.