Shinobi engineers immune evasive and armored induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to enhance cell therapy efficacy. Their technology shields iPSC-derived therapies from innate and antibody-mediated immune rejection, allowing them to function within the patient's immune system. This platform aims to unlock the full therapeutic potential of cell therapies across various disease indications.
Funding
$78.3M 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.
MUYFounders
Product
Problem
Current cell therapies face challenges with immune rejection, limiting their effectiveness and requiring immunosuppression, which can lead to complications. Developing cell therapies that can evade the patient's immune system is crucial for improving treatment outcomes, especially for solid tumors and genetic diseases.
Solution
Shinobi Therapeutics is developing immune-evasive induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived T cell therapies designed to overcome immune rejection without the need for harsh immunosuppression. The company's Katana platform enables the creation of a master cell bank of untargeted iPS-T cells that can be rapidly adapted to target specific antigens through the introduction of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) or T cell receptors (TCRs). By shielding against T-cells, innate immunity, and antibody-mediated rejection, Shinobi's approach aims to enhance cell persistence, reduce or eliminate the need for lymphodepletion, and enable redosing for durable patient responses. This technology facilitates the development of off-the-shelf allogeneic cell therapies, offering a potentially more accessible and cost-effective solution for treating a range of diseases.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes patients with solid tumors and genetic diseases, as well as healthcare providers and researchers seeking advanced cell therapies with improved efficacy and reduced side effects.
Features
- Comprehensive immune evasion technology to protect iPSC-derived cells from T-cell, innate immune, and antibody-mediated rejection
- Katana platform for rapid generation of targeted iPS-T cells through CAR or TCR introduction
- CD8αβ iPS-T cell therapies targeting GPC3+ HLA-A24 and GPC3+ HLA-A2 solid tumors
- Pipeline programs (NJA-001, NJA-002, NJA-003, NJA-004, NJA-005) addressing solid tumors, autoimmune diseases, and Type 1 Diabetes
- Potential for increased cell persistence and reduced or eliminated lymphodepletion
- Amenable to redosing for durable patient responses
- Off-the-shelf availability for broader patient access