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§ Private Profile · 1 Main Street, 13 fl, Cambridge, MA 02142
Biotech company developing first-in-class small molecule therapies for multiple myeloma, targeting epigenetic oncogenic pathways.
K36 Therapeutics, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, develops first-in-class small molecule therapies targeting epigenetic oncogenic pathways, primarily focusing on multiple myeloma. Their lead candidate, KTX-1001, a selective inhibitor of the histone methyltransferase MMSET, is overexpressed in up to 20% of multiple myeloma patients due to t(4;14) translocation, with exclusive worldwide IP licensed from Novartis. The company has raised $70 million in total funding, with an estimated valuation of $24 million, and employs between 21 and 50 individuals. Lead investors include F-Prime Capital, Atlas Venture, and Eight Roads Ventures. Key personnel include CEO Terry Connolly, CMO Benjamin Winograd, and Board Director Lori Kunkel. K36 Therapeutics was founded in February 2021. Its business model centers on privately held biotech funded by venture capital investments.
K36 Therapeutics has raised $100.0M across 2 funding rounds.
K36 Therapeutics has raised $100.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
K36 Therapeutics is not a technology company—it is a biotechnology company focused on developing small molecule therapeutics for cancer treatment.[1][2]
K36 Therapeutics is a privately held biotech firm developing precision oncology therapies through epigenetic modulation.[2] The company's mission is to translate epigenetic modulation of oncogenic pathways into first-in-class small molecule therapeutics for cancer patients worldwide.[2] Rather than building software or digital platforms, K36 develops drug candidates targeting specific genetic drivers of cancer, with a current focus on multiple myeloma and prostate cancer.[3] The company has demonstrated significant growth momentum, securing $100 million in funding ($30 million Series A in December 2021 and $70 million Series B in June 2023) and earning recognition as "Overall BioPharma Startup of the Year" for its lead candidate, gintemetostat (KTX-1001).[2][4]
Founded in February 2021 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, K36 Therapeutics emerged from a focused mission to address an "undruggable" target.[1][2] The company was built around a specific scientific insight: NSD2 (also known as MMSET or WHSC1), a histone methyltransferase, is overexpressed in approximately 20% of multiple myeloma patients with the t(4;14) translocation—a high-risk mutation associated with poor prognosis.[4] This patient population had limited effective treatment options, creating a clear unmet medical need. K36's founding team, led by CEO Terry Connolly, Ph.D., recognized an opportunity to develop the first selective inhibitor of this target, positioning the company at the forefront of epigenetic cancer therapy.[2]
K36 operates within the growing precision oncology and epigenetics space, where understanding cancer's molecular drivers is reshaping drug development. The company's focus on epigenetic modulation—targeting how genes are regulated rather than their sequence—represents a frontier in cancer therapy. The timing is favorable: multiple myeloma treatment has improved in recent years, yet high-risk subsets remain underserved, and the broader biotech industry is increasingly validating epigenetic targets as druggable.[4] K36's success in targeting NSD2 could influence how the industry approaches other historically "undruggable" epigenetic drivers, potentially opening new therapeutic avenues across multiple cancer types.
K36 Therapeutics is positioned at an inflection point. With first-in-human clinical data now presented at major conferences and a newly appointed Chief Medical Officer bringing deep oncology expertise, the company is transitioning from early-stage validation to clinical expansion.[5] The next critical milestones will be advancing KTX-1001 through Phase 1/2 trials in multiple myeloma while initiating development in prostate cancer. If gintemetostat demonstrates sustained clinical benefit and manageable safety, K36 could establish a new standard of care for t(4;14) multiple myeloma and validate NSD2 inhibition as a platform for broader oncology applications. The company's trajectory reflects a broader shift in biotech toward solving previously intractable targets through deep molecular understanding—a trend that will likely define the next generation of cancer therapeutics.
K36 Therapeutics has raised $100.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $70.0M Series B in June 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2023 | $70M Series B | — | Atlas Venture, Forbion, F Prime Capital, Longwood Fund, Nextech Invest | Announced |
| Dec 1, 2021 | $30M Series A | Atlas Venture, Chong XU | Forbion, F Prime Capital, Longwood Fund, Eight Roads Ventures | Announced |
K36 Therapeutics has raised $100.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
K36 Therapeutics's investors include Atlas Venture, Forbion, F-Prime Capital Partners, Longwood Fund, Nextech Invest, Chong Xu, Eight Roads Ventures.