Shasqi is a privately held, clinical-stage biotech based in San Francisco developing precision-activated oncology therapeutics with its CAPAC click chemistry platform. Its lead candidate, SQ3370, is the first click chemistry–based therapy tested in humans and uses an injected tetrazine-modified biopolymer to locally activate an intravenously infused protodrug (a trans-cyclooctene–modified doxorubicin) at the tumor site. Interim Phase 1 data presented at ESMO showed an encouraging safety profile and early signs of clinical activity, and the company is conducting an ongoing Phase 1/2 study with plans for a Phase 1 expansion cohort and a Phase 2 registration study in 2022. Shasqi plans to expand the platform beyond injectable tumors beginning with an antibody-directed program and to explore immune cell engagers, radiopharmaceuticals, and other modalities to reach non-injectable tumors. The company intends to initiate two development programs over the next two years and expects to share pharmacokinetic and biomarker data by Q2 2022. Financially, Shasqi announced a $50 million Series B and has previously deployed roughly $18 million to advance SQ3370 into clinical studies. Shasqi develops a localized drug-activation platform that uses a patented injected biomaterial containing activating agents to concentrate and activate systemic prodrug versions of cancer drugs directly at tumor sites. In preclinical models the technology increased active drug at a tumor site by more than 25-fold and produced a high level of sustainable, complete responses with fewer side-effects than current approaches. The company aims to enable much higher dosing of powerful cancer therapies while greatly reducing treatment-limiting toxicities by minimizing off-target exposure. Shasqi is using bioorthogonal “click” chemistry to achieve local activation and delivery. The company planned GMP manufacturing for its lead drug candidate and to initiate a Phase 1 human trial in early/mid 2020. Shasqi is privately held and was founded in 2018.

Total raised

$60M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series B

Latest activity

Nov 2021