Loading organizations...
§ Private Profile · Germantown, MD, USA
Biotech company developing next-generation cytokine therapies for cancer and inflammatory diseases, focused on precision medicine.
Deka Biosciences is a biotechnology company based in Germantown, Maryland, that develops next generation cytokine therapies, known as Diakines, to treat solid and hematological tumors, sepsis, and inflammatory conditions like Crohn's disease. The enterprise utilizes a precision medicine strategy alongside an enhanced manufacturing scaffold platform designed to extend drug half life, target specific tissues, and minimize overall toxicity for patients. Operating from a dedicated 14,000 square foot research, process development, and manufacturing facility, the venture backed startup secured a $20 million financing round in late 2021 to advance its clinical pipeline. Deka Biosciences is backed by institutional investors including Plains Ventures and maintains strategic manufacturing and clinical trial partnerships with Cytovance Biologics, Wheeler Bio, and the OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center. The clinical stage biotechnology company was founded in 2018 by serial entrepreneur John Mumm and Pavel Khrimian.
Deka Biosciences has raised $40.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Deka Biosciences has raised $40.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Deka Biosciences has raised $40.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $20.0M Series B in September 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2023 | $20M Series B | MPM Capital | John Mumm, Alexandria Venture Investments, Amana Investments, Atem Capital, Leaps BY Bayer, O BIO, Plains Ventures | Announced |
| Nov 17, 2021 | $20M Series A | Juergen Eckhardt, Benjamin Rovinski, Ph.d. | Alexandria Venture Investments, O BIO | Announced |
Deka Biosciences has raised $40.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Deka Biosciences's investors include MPM Capital, John Mumm, Alexandria Venture Investments, Amana Investments, ATEM Capital, Leaps by Bayer, O-Bio, Plains Ventures, Juergen Eckhardt, Benjamin Rovinski, Ph.D..
Deka Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing the Diakine™ platform, a next-generation cytokine therapy for personalized treatments targeting cancer and inflammatory diseases like Crohn's, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and sepsis.[1][2][3][5] Based in Germantown, Maryland, it creates drug conjugates and antibody fusion proteins that combine immune-stimulating and anti-inflammatory cytokines, enabling precise immune responses tailored to individual patients.[1][5] Lead candidates include Diakine-DK210 (Phase 1 for non-small cell lung cancer) and others in preclinical stages for colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel diseases, addressing unmet needs in oncology and autoimmunity through tissue-specific enrichment.[1][2]
The company serves patients with hard-to-treat cancers and chronic inflammatory conditions, solving problems of cytokine toxicity and lack of specificity in traditional immunotherapies by engineering targeted fusions that localize to diseased tissues.[3][5]
Deka Biosciences was founded in 2019 by John B. Mumm (President & CEO) and Pavel Khrimian (Chief Business Officer), with operations starting in January in Germantown, Maryland.[1][3][4] Mumm, a biotech leader with expertise in immunology, drives the vision for cytokine innovation, supported by advisors like Stanley Frankel (Senior Clinical Advisor & Interim CMO) and a Scientific Advisory Board focused on oncology and epigenetics.[3] The idea emerged from advancing IL-10 variants and cytokine fusions to overcome limitations in immunotherapy, building on transdisciplinary research in genetic alterations, microRNA, and exosomes for disease progression from inflammation to cancer.[3][4] Early traction includes advancing Diakine-DK210 to Phase 1 and preclinical assets, positioning Deka for partnerships.[1][5]
Deka rides the cytokine therapy wave in immuno-oncology and autoimmunity, where trends like bispecific antibodies and personalized medicine address failures of broad immunotherapies amid rising cancer incidence and inflammatory disease prevalence.[1][2][5] Timing aligns with advances in precision targeting (e.g., ADCs, fusion proteins), fueled by market forces like regulatory nods for cytokine mods and demand for safer alternatives to checkpoint inhibitors.[1][3] Deka influences the ecosystem by pioneering dual-cytokine fusions—anti-inflammatory for inflammation, stimulatory-suppressive for tumors—potentially setting standards for patient-stratified trials and attracting pharma partnerships in a $100B+ biologics market.[5]
Deka's near-term focus will likely advance Diakine-DK210 through Phase 1 readouts (2026+), expand preclinical assets into INDs, and secure partnerships for its modular platform, capitalizing on cytokine resurgence.[1][5] Trends like AI-driven patient selection and exosome integration from its advisors could accelerate growth, evolving Deka from pipeline biotech to immuno-therapy leader.[3] As personalized cytokine therapies mature, Deka's tissue-enriching approach positions it to transform outcomes in cancer and inflammation, fulfilling its promise of a Diakine™ for every patient.[5]