The startup operates a clinical-stage biotech company that utilizes a platform for T-cell activation through co-stimulation of the T-cell receptor and a secondary signal, specifically targeting tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. This approach aims to enhance the efficacy of cancer treatments by consistently activating T-cell subsets that are crucial for combating tumors.
Funding
$119M 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, such as checkpoint inhibitors, do not always generate a sufficient T cell response, particularly in tumors with limited immune infiltration or in patients who have developed resistance. Existing approaches may also lack the specificity needed to target tumor cells effectively while minimizing off-target effects.
Solution
Marengo Therapeutics is developing novel T cell activation therapies that selectively modulate T cell subsets within the tumor microenvironment to promote a robust and durable anti-cancer immune response. The company's STAR (Selective T cell Agonist Receptor) platform utilizes first-in-class antibodies targeting Variable β (Vβ) chain variants of the T cell receptor (TCR) to directly activate and expand specific T cell populations. This approach aims to reinvigorate the anti-tumor immune response, even in immunologically "cold" tumors, by reprogramming T cells to a central memory phenotype. Marengo is also developing TriSTAR, a precision T cell engager platform, and MSTAR, a selective T cell depletion platform, to address a broad range of cancers and autoimmune diseases.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes patients with advanced solid tumors, particularly those resistant to PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors, as well as individuals with autoimmune diseases.
Features
- STAR platform: Bispecific molecules that co-stimulate the T cell receptor and deliver a secondary signal for enhanced T cell activation.
- TriSTAR platform: Trispecific T cell engagers that selectively expand and tumor-target Vβ T cells for potent anti-tumor activity.
- MSTAR platform: Multi-specific constructs for precision depletion of pathogenic T cell subsets in autoimmune diseases.
- Vβ chain-targeting antibodies: Enable selective modulation of germline-encoded Vβ TCR variants.
- Ability to target both "hot" and "cold" tumors by expanding tumor-specific Vβ T cells.
- Central memory reprogramming: Results in non-exhausted tumor-infiltrating T cells for durable memory.
- STAR0602 (Invikafusp alfa): A first-in-class dual T cell agonist in Phase 1/2 clinical trials.