Haptena Therapeutics leverages deep expertise in cancer biology and tumor resistance mechanisms to create highly specific therapies for oncogene-driven cancers. Its proprietary discovery platform is initially focused on KRAS mutations, which occur in roughly 25% of adult solid tumors such as lung, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers. The company’s lead program targets KRAS G12C and aims to reinforce the current standard of care by addressing tumor vulnerabilities that arise after existing KRAS inhibitors. Seed financing will push this program toward pre-clinical validation in non-small-cell lung cancer while establishing a framework to apply the same discovery approach to other oncogenic drivers. Founded by academic scientists Chiara Ambrogio and Roberto Chiarle, the startup plans to build a scalable pipeline that offers longer-lasting clinical responses for patients whose tumors develop resistance to precision therapies. Haptena operates from Turin, Italy, and is currently pre-revenue, relying on venture funding to advance its research programs.

Total raised

$4M

Funding rounds

1

Latest round

Seed

Latest activity

Dec 2025