Actym Therapeutics has built the STACT (S. Typhimurium-Attenuated Cancer Therapy) platform, which uses a genetically modified bacterial vehicle to transport therapeutic payloads directly into the tumor microenvironment (TME). The company’s lead candidate, ACTM-838, delivers optimized IL-15 and STING payloads to the TME and has shown preferential enrichment and synergistic innate and adaptive anti-tumor responses in preclinical studies. STACT is positioned as a modular modality to achieve comprehensive immunological re-activation of immuno-compromised TMEs across multiple solid tumor indications. Actym plans to use the recent financing to enter a Phase 1 clinical trial designed to demonstrate proof of mechanism — selective tumor enrichment, payload delivery, and TME re-activation. The Phase 1 study will also assess dose selection, safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of ACTM-838. Company commentary emphasizes translating its understanding of the TME into an effective and safe cancer therapy. Actym Therapeutics is a Berkeley, Calif.-based immuno-oncology company that has developed a microbial-based immunotherapy platform called STACT (S. Typhimurium Attenuated Cancer Therapy). STACT selectively enriches in many types of solid tumors in preclinical studies and spares healthy tissue. Once localized to tumors, STACT delivers multiplexed immuno-modulatory payloads directly to tumor-resident immune cells. The platform is engineered to deliver payload combinations, enabling engagement of multiple biological pathways from a single therapy and addressing agents that are otherwise limited by systemic toxicities after IV dosing. The company completed a $34M Series A and will use the proceeds to advance STACT-derived immunotherapies into the clinic for the treatment of various cancers. Leadership includes CEO Christopher Thanos, Ph.D., VP Research Laura Hix Glickman, Ph.D., and Chief Medical Advisor Mark Frohlich, M.D.

Total raised

$94M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series A

Latest activity

Oct 2023