ALKEMIST BIO
ALKemist Bio emerges from the research conducted by Roberto Chiarle, Professor of pathology at the University of Turin and Director of the haemolymphopathology Department of the European Institute of Oncology, in Milan.
The newly launched biotechnology company is based in Turin, Italy, and develops cellular immunotherapies based on engineering immune system cells with T-cell receptors (TCR-T cells), immune receptors that enable the recognition and elimination of cancer cells expressing the ALK oncogene (from Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase) in patients with ALK-positive tumors.
ALK-positive cancers constitute a subset of aggressive malignancies affecting various organs, including lung cancer, lymphomas, and rare pediatric cancers. These malignancies present significant challenges due to the frequent acquisition of resistance to the standard of care, indicating the need for innovative therapies. The cellular immuno-based therapy approach being developed by ALKemist Bio aims to unleash the patient’s immune system by generating T cells engineered to recognize and destroy cancer cells harboring the ALK oncogene, offering a tailored and potentially curative treatment strategy.
Sponsor research agreements have been executed for the development with Boston Children’s Hospital an with the University of Turin (Molecular Biotechnology Center).
Round
LIFTT Investment
In portfolio: Q4 2023
Venture phase: Start-up
