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Based in Berkeley, California, Actym Therapeutics is a privately held, clinical-stage biotechnology company developing targeted immuno-oncology therapies for solid tumors. The enterprise utilizes a proprietary microbial-based platform known as Salmonella Typhimurium Attenuated Cancer Therapy to safely deliver therapeutic payloads directly into the tumor microenvironment and overcome tumor-induced immunosuppression. Following regulatory clearance for its investigational new drug application, the firm successfully dosed the first patient in a Phase 1 clinical trial for its lead candidate, ACT-884, in September 2023. To finance its research and development operations, the business secured a $34 million Series A funding round backed by lead investors Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, Panacea Venture, and Illumina Ventures. Actym Therapeutics was established in 2017 by its co-founders Christopher D. Thanos, Laura Hix Glickman, and Jason Cyster, and recently appointed Thomas Smart as Chief Executive Officer.
Actym Therapeutics, Inc. has raised $60.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Actym Therapeutics, Inc. has raised $60.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Actym Therapeutics, Inc. has raised $60.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $26.0M Series A in October 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2023 | $26M Series A | Illumina Ventures, Boehringer Ingelheim | Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, Gkcc, JLO Ventures | Announced |
| Apr 1, 2020 | $34M Series A | Kanad DAS | Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, Illumina Ventures, JLO Ventures, Korea Investment Partners | Announced |
Actym Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing innovative cancer immunotherapies using its proprietary STACT™ platform, a genetically engineered bacterial drug delivery system based on *Salmonella typhimurium*.[1][2][3] The platform enables systemic administration of bacteria that selectively target and amplify therapeutic payloads—such as IL-15 and STING agonists—directly at solid tumor sites, minimizing systemic toxicity for patients with advanced solid tumors.[1][3][5] Its lead candidate, ACTM-838, is in a Phase 1a/1b clinical trial, with data generation ongoing and a key catalyst expected by December 2026; the company is expanding its pipeline to oncology and fibrotic diseases.[2][3][5]
Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Berkeley, California, Actym serves oncology patients and has raised funding from prominent biotech investors, operating with a lean team under <25 employees and revenue under $5 million.[1][2]
Actym Therapeutics was founded in 2017 in Berkeley, California, by a team of scientists and entrepreneurs aiming to leverage bacterial biology for targeted cancer therapies.[2] The idea emerged from advances in synthetic biology, harnessing bacteria's natural tumor-homing properties—*Salmonella typhimurium* naturally accumulates in hypoxic tumor environments—to create a novel delivery vehicle for immunotherapies that traditional methods struggle to deliver effectively.[1][3] Early traction came from preclinical development of the STACT platform, leading to the selection of ACTM-838 as the lead asset; pivotal moments include presenting preclinical data at the 2023 SITC Annual Meeting and initiating the Phase 1 trial in advanced solid tumors.[1][3]
Leadership includes CEO Tom Smart, who leads company presentations and clinical efforts.[2] The board features biotech veterans like Chair Julie M. Cherrington (Venture Partner, Brandon Capital), Benjamin P. Chen (Panacea Ventures), Ron Mazumder (Illumina Ventures), and Stefan Pflanz (Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund).[6]
Actym stands out in immuno-oncology through its bacterial delivery platform, which addresses key limitations of systemic therapies:
Actym rides the wave of synthetic biology and engineered microbiomes in oncology, where bacteria-based therapies exploit tumors' immunosuppressive microenvironments more effectively than viral vectors or nanoparticles.[1][3] Timing aligns with surging demand for next-generation immunotherapies amid checkpoint inhibitor resistance in 70-80% of solid tumors, fueled by market forces like $150B+ oncology spending and advances in gene editing (e.g., CRISPR for bacterial engineering).[2][5] Actym influences the ecosystem by pioneering "living drugs"—self-amplifying therapeutics—potentially enabling combination regimens with PD-1 inhibitors, and its presence at events like BIO 2025 signals partnership opportunities in a consolidating biotech space.[2]
Actym's path forward hinges on Phase 1 data for ACTM-838 (expected Dec 2026), which could validate STACT's efficacy and de-risk the platform for Phase 2 expansion into specific tumors like colorectal or pancreatic.[2][3] Trends like AI-optimized payload design and microbiome synergies will accelerate iteration, while partnerships—leveraging its one available asset—may fund pipeline growth.[2][5] Influence could evolve from niche innovator to category leader if STACT proves superior tumor penetration, tying back to its core strength: biologically brilliant bacteria transforming hard-to-treat cancers into addressable markets.[1][3]
Actym Therapeutics, Inc. has raised $60.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Actym Therapeutics, Inc.'s investors include Illumina Ventures, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, GKCC, JLo Ventures, Kanad Das, Korea Investment Partners.
