Loading organizations...
§ Private Profile · South San Francisco, CA, USA
Shinobi Therapeutics is a technology company.
Shinobi Therapeutics develops off-the-shelf, immune-evasive iPSC-derived cell therapies, primarily focusing on hypoimmune iPS-T cells. Utilizing its proprietary ‘Katana’ platform, the company engineers these cells to evade the host immune system, thereby enhancing scalability and patient accessibility. These advanced therapeutic candidates are designed to treat various indications, including solid tumors and autoimmune disorders, with initial programs targeting GPC3+ cancers.
The company was formally launched in 2023, building upon over a decade of foundational research by its scientific co-founders, Shin Kaneko, M.D., Ph.D., and Tobias Deuse, M.D. Dr. Kaneko's work at Kyoto University and Dr. Deuse's contributions at the University of California, San Francisco, laid the groundwork for editing induced pluripotent stem cells to achieve immune evasion, forming the core technological insight for Shinobi.
Shinobi Therapeutics aims to serve a broad patient population suffering from serious diseases like cancer and autoimmune conditions, offering therapies that are both effective and convenient for physicians. The company's vision is to unlock the full potential of cell therapy by providing patient and physician-friendly, readily available treatments, thereby significantly expanding the therapeutic reach of allogeneic cellular interventions.
Shinobi Therapeutics has raised $110.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Shinobi Therapeutics has raised $110.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Shinobi Therapeutics has raised $110.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $59.0M Grant in August 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 2024 | $59M Grant | LSP | — | Announced |
| Dec 1, 2023 | $51M Series A | F Prime Capital, LSP | 5AM Ventures, Arboretum Ventures, Atlas Venture, EQT Life Sciences, F Prime Capital, HealthQuest Capital, Pivotal BioVenture Partners, Soffinova Partners, SR ONE, Telegraph Hill Partners | Announced |
Shinobi Therapeutics has raised $110.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Shinobi Therapeutics's investors include LSP, F-Prime Capital, 5AM Ventures, Arboretum Ventures, Atlas Venture, EQT Life Sciences, F-Prime Capital Partners, HealthQuest Capital, Pivotal bioVenture Partners, Soffinova Partners, SR One, Telegraph Hill Partners.
Shinobi Therapeutics is a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of off-the-shelf, immune evasive cell therapies derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Their proprietary platform, known as Katana, engineers iPSCs to evade immune rejection comprehensively, enabling scalable allogeneic CD8αβ iPS-T cell therapies. These therapies target solid tumors and autoimmune diseases, addressing the limitations of current autologous cell therapies, which are costly, complex, and less accessible. Shinobi serves patients with cancer and autoimmune disorders by providing scalable, immune-compatible cell treatments that can be administered multiple times without triggering immune rejection, potentially improving outcomes and broadening patient access[1][2][5].
Founded in 2023, Shinobi Therapeutics emerged from over a decade of research by scientific co-founders Dr. Shin Kaneko (Kyoto University) and Dr. Tobias Deuse (University of California, San Francisco). The company was built on their breakthrough work in editing iPSCs to create hypoimmune cells that evade all arms of the immune system. Early traction included licensing foundational technology from Kyoto University and UCSF and assembling a world-class Scientific Advisory Board featuring pioneers like Dr. Carl June, a CAR-T therapy innovator. The company quickly raised $51 million in Series A funding to advance its platform toward clinical trials[1][2][4].
Shinobi Therapeutics is riding the wave of next-generation cell therapies that aim to overcome the scalability and accessibility challenges of current autologous CAR-T treatments. The timing is critical as the cell therapy market demands more cost-effective, off-the-shelf solutions to meet global patient needs. Advances in gene editing and iPSC technology, combined with growing clinical validation of immune evasive strategies, position Shinobi to influence the broader ecosystem by enabling multiple-dose regimens and expanding indications beyond cancer. Their platform could accelerate the adoption of cell therapies in solid tumors and autoimmune diseases, areas where current treatments have limited success[1][2][5].
Looking ahead, Shinobi Therapeutics is poised to enter clinical trials targeting solid tumors and autoimmune conditions, leveraging its immune evasive iPSC-derived cell therapies. Trends such as increasing demand for scalable cell therapies, advances in gene editing, and regulatory support for innovative biologics will shape their trajectory. As the company matures, its influence may grow by setting new standards for off-the-shelf cell therapy efficacy and accessibility, potentially transforming treatment paradigms across multiple disease areas. Shinobi’s success could mark a significant step toward making cell therapies broadly available worldwide, fulfilling its mission to overcome immune rejection barriers and improve patient outcomes[2][5].