Xilio Therapeutics engineers tumor-selective immunotherapies that are masked until activated in the tumor microenvironment to maximize efficacy and reduce systemic toxicity. Its lead candidates are XTX202 (tumor-selective IL-2) and XTX101 (tumor-selective anti-CTLA4 mAb). The company also has a cytokine program including tumor-selective IL-12, XTX301. XTX202 and XTX101 have shown significant anti-tumor effects with minimal peripheral effects in preclinical models. Xilio plans to advance its lead candidates into clinical trials and expects to file INDs for XTX202 and XTX101 with the FDA in 2021. Xilio was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. Xilio Therapeutics (formerly Akrevia) is developing a proprietary platform to create ultra-potent, tumor‑selective immuno-oncology therapies that are activated selectively within the tumor microenvironment. Its lead programs are XTX201 (tumor-selective IL-2) and XTX101 (tumor-selective aCTLA4 monoclonal antibody), which have shown tumor-selective activity in preclinical models. The company intends to use the recent financing to complete IND-enabling studies and advance those candidates into Phase 1 clinical trials, and to progress additional tumor-selective cytokine programs. Xilio positions its approach as a way to widen the therapeutic index of validated IO therapies by reducing peripheral toxicities that have limited patient dosing. The company rebranded from Akrevia to Xilio to reflect its evolution from research-focused to development-stage, and is led by CEO Rene Russo. Xilio was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. Akrevia Therapeutics is a Cambridge, Mass.-based biopharmaceutical company focused on developing tumor-targeted immuno-oncology therapeutics. Its proprietary Aklusion® platform enables biologics to be specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment with precisely tailored properties. The company is applying the platform to build a broad pipeline of engineered antibodies, cytokines and chemokines as potential new options for patients living with cancer. Akrevia says the platform expands the universe of immune-activating proteins that can be safely delivered. Leadership includes Tim Clackson, Ph.D. (President and Head of R&D), Nessan Bermingham, Ph.D. (Executive Chairman), Ronan O’Hagan, Ph.D. (SVP of Discovery) and Margaret Karow, Ph.D. (SVP of Preclinical Development). The company closed a $30M Series A to accelerate development of its pipeline and Aklusion platform. Akriveia Therapeutics leverages a proprietary platform to create immunotherapeutic products that are specifically activated in the microenvironment of tumors. The company has entered into exclusive license agreements for key enabling technologies with City of Hope and Thomas Jefferson University. Led by CEO Simon Tomlinson, Akriveia aims to build a pipeline of single-agent and combination immunotherapeutics. The company plans to use new funding to expand its team and accelerate therapeutic discovery efforts. Akriveia was founded on the work of Professor John Williams at City of Hope and Professor Ulrich Rodeck at Thomas Jefferson University. The company is based in Thousand Oaks, California.

Total raised

$233M

Funding rounds

4

Latest round

Series C

Latest activity

Feb 2021