Bolt Biotherapeutics is a technology company.
Bolt Biotherapeutics has raised $148.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Bolt Biotherapeutics has raised $148.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Bolt Biotherapeutics has raised $148.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Bolt Biotherapeutics's investors include Novo Ventures, Pivotal bioVenture Partners, RiverVest, Roche Venture Fund, SR One.
Bolt Biotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel immunotherapies to treat cancer by harnessing the innate immune system.[1][2][3] It builds targeted therapies using its proprietary Boltbody™ Immune-Stimulating Antibody Conjugate (ISAC) platform, which combines tumor-targeting antibodies with immune-activating payloads to trigger myeloid cells and pattern recognition receptors, enabling the body to recognize and eradicate tumors.[1][3] The company serves patients with solid tumors, such as HER2-positive breast, colorectal, endometrial, gastroesophageal, head and neck, non-small cell lung, ovarian, and triple-negative breast cancers, addressing unmet needs in immuno-oncology where traditional treatments fall short.[2][3]
Key products include BDC-1001, an ISAC in clinical development for HER2-positive solid tumors, and BDC-3042, an agonist antibody targeting Dectin-2 to repolarize macrophages across various tumors.[2][3] Bolt has raised $340.5M in funding, including a $230M round, supporting its pipeline and collaborations with partners like Toray Industries, Genmab, Innovent Biologics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Roche.[2]
Bolt Biotherapeutics was founded in 2015 by Dr. Edgar G. Engleman, a Stanford University professor pioneering cancer immunotherapeutics and myeloid biology.[1] The idea emerged from Engleman's research on using foreign patterns to activate the innate immune system against cancer, expanding his academic work into a commercial platform.[1][3] Initially incorporated as Bolt Therapeutics, Inc., it rebranded to Bolt Biotherapeutics, Inc. in July 2015 and is headquartered in Redwood City, in the San Francisco Bay Area.[1][2]
Early traction came from assembling a management team with expertise in immuno-oncology drug discovery, development, and commercialization, alongside securing licenses from Stanford and partnerships that fueled its pipeline.[1][2] This foundation positioned Bolt as a biotech innovator bridging academia and industry.
Bolt rides the immuno-oncology wave, shifting from broad chemotherapies and checkpoint inhibitors to precise innate immune activation, amid rising demand for therapies tackling "cold" tumors resistant to PD-1/PD-L1 drugs.[1][3] Timing aligns with advances in myeloid cell research and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), where Bolt's ISAC twist adds immune stimulation for durable responses.[3]
Market forces favor it: surging biotech funding for next-gen cancer treatments, regulatory nods for myeloid-targeted assets, and partnerships signaling ecosystem validation.[2] Bolt influences the landscape by pioneering ISACs, inspiring combo therapies, and contributing to a collaborative model that accelerates oncology innovation beyond siloed development.[1][2][3]
Bolt's trajectory hinges on clinical readouts from BDC-1001 and BDC-3042, potentially unlocking blockbuster status in HER2+ and myeloid-reprogrammed tumors.[2] Upcoming milestones include trial expansions, combo studies with partners, and possible Phase 2/3 data by 2026, bolstered by its funding runway.[2]
Shaping trends—AI-driven target discovery, bispecifics, and innate immunity combos—could amplify Bolt's platform, evolving its role from pipeline developer to immuno-oncology leader. As innate immune therapies mature, Bolt stands poised to redefine cancer treatment, fulfilling its mission to eradicate tumors by empowering the body's defenses.[1][3]
Bolt Biotherapeutics has raised $148.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $94.0M Series C in June 2020.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2020 | $94.0M Series C | Novo Ventures, Pivotal bioVenture Partners, RiverVest, Roche Venture Fund, SR One | |
| Feb 1, 2019 | $54.0M Series B | Novo Ventures, Pivotal bioVenture Partners, RiverVest, Roche Venture Fund, SR One |