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Concarlo Therapeutics is a preclinical-stage oncology company developing therapeutics that target the p27 protein to inhibit cancer progression, based in Brooklyn, New York. The biotechnology firm focuses on addressing critical gaps in oncology treatments by creating a pipeline of large and small molecule therapeutics designed to inhibit both CDK4/6 and CDK2 pathways. These preclinical assets are engineered for patients with treatment-resistant conditions, such as advanced breast cancer, who no longer respond to existing commercial CDK4/6 inhibitors. Operating as a private enterprise, the organization utilizes venture capital and grant funding to advance its proprietary drug candidates toward clinical trials. The company recently expanded its leadership by appointing Vadim Shepel as Chief Business Officer, while executive Stacy Blain presented research at the BIO International Convention. Concarlo Therapeutics was founded in 2010 by Stacy Blain and LisaMarie Casey.
Concarlo Therapeutics has raised $7.0M across 1 funding round.
Concarlo Therapeutics has raised $7.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Concarlo Therapeutics has raised $7.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $7.0M Seed in March 2018.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2018 | $7M Seed | — | Accelerate NEW York Seed Fund | Announced |
Concarlo Therapeutics has raised $7.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Concarlo Therapeutics's investors include Accelerate New York Seed Fund.
Concarlo Therapeutics is a preclinical-stage precision-medicine oncology company developing novel therapeutics targeting the p27Kip1 protein to treat drug-resistant cancers, particularly hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and advanced melanoma.[1][2][3][5][6] The company serves cancer patients who have failed prior CDK4/6 inhibitor therapies or other precision oncology treatments, addressing the problem of drug resistance by inhibiting CDK4, CDK6, and CDK2 simultaneously through p27 activation, which halts and eliminates tumor cell growth rather than just slowing it, potentially as a chemotherapy alternative with reduced toxicity.[2][4][5][6] Their lead product, IpY—a patented peptide:liposomal drug based on endogenous p27—is advancing toward IND approval for a Phase 1 trial in about 18 months, supported by promising preclinical mouse trials showing tumor regression and low toxicity; funding includes SBIR grants and investors like Accelerate New York Seed Fund and BioAdvance.[4][5][6]
Founded in 2016 or 2017 in Brooklyn, New York, Concarlo Therapeutics was established by Dr. Stacy Blain, an internationally recognized expert in cell cycle and cancer biology with deep knowledge of p27Kip1, alongside team members like Jason Mraz and Krishna Allamneni.[1][4][5][6] The idea emerged from decades of research on p27, a natural "ON-OFF" switch inhibiting key cancer drivers CDK4/CDK6 and CDK2, which Blain leveraged to pioneer "undruggable" targeting after observing widespread resistance to existing CDK therapies.[2][3][4] Early traction came from preclinical successes, including mouse trials demonstrating efficacy against resistant breast cancers, and securing non-dilutive funding from Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), New York State programs, and early investors, enabling progression toward clinical stages.[4][5]
Concarlo rides the precision oncology wave, targeting CDK inhibitor resistance—a key bottleneck as drugs like Pfizer's and Novartis' CDK4/6 therapies fail in 30-50% of patients due to CDK2 reactivation and RAS/MAPK pathways.[1][6] Timing aligns with booming demand for post-precision failure options, fueled by aging populations and rising cancer incidence, where the CDK inhibitor market (including peers like Relay Therapeutics) is projected to grow amid needs for combo therapies.[1][2] Market forces favor Concarlo's approach: p27's homology reduces off-target toxicity plaguing direct CDK2 drugs, enabling expansion into lucrative spaces like metastatic breast cancer (post-CDK4i) and as chemo alternatives, influencing the ecosystem by validating "undruggable" targets and accelerating multi-CDK strategies.[4][5][6]
Concarlo is poised to file IND for IpY Phase 1 within 18 months, potentially entering trials for breast/ovarian cancers and proving p27's clinical viability as a triple-CDK inhibitor.[6] Trends like AI-driven drug discovery (e.g., Insilico's CDK8 work) and combo therapies with RAS inhibitors will amplify its edge, while expanding indications could attract big pharma partnerships.[1][6] Its influence may evolve from niche resistance-fighter to oncology staple, transforming drug-resistant cancer into a manageable condition and redefining precision medicine's limits—cleaning up where others fall short.[3]
