Deka Biosciences is a technology company.
Deka Biosciences is revolutionizing immunotherapy by developing personalized treatments for cancer and inflammatory diseases through their Diakine™ platform.
Deka Biosciences has raised $20.0M across 1 funding round.
Deka Biosciences has raised $20.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Deka Biosciences has raised $20.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Deka Biosciences's investors include MPM Capital.
Deka Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing the Diakine™ platform, a next-generation cytokine therapy for personalized treatments targeting cancer and inflammatory diseases like Crohn's, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and sepsis.[1][2][3][5] Based in Germantown, Maryland, it creates drug conjugates and antibody fusion proteins that combine immune-stimulating and anti-inflammatory cytokines, enabling precise immune responses tailored to individual patients.[1][5] Lead candidates include Diakine-DK210 (Phase 1 for non-small cell lung cancer) and others in preclinical stages for colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel diseases, addressing unmet needs in oncology and autoimmunity through tissue-specific enrichment.[1][2]
The company serves patients with hard-to-treat cancers and chronic inflammatory conditions, solving problems of cytokine toxicity and lack of specificity in traditional immunotherapies by engineering targeted fusions that localize to diseased tissues.[3][5]
Deka Biosciences was founded in 2019 by John B. Mumm (President & CEO) and Pavel Khrimian (Chief Business Officer), with operations starting in January in Germantown, Maryland.[1][3][4] Mumm, a biotech leader with expertise in immunology, drives the vision for cytokine innovation, supported by advisors like Stanley Frankel (Senior Clinical Advisor & Interim CMO) and a Scientific Advisory Board focused on oncology and epigenetics.[3] The idea emerged from advancing IL-10 variants and cytokine fusions to overcome limitations in immunotherapy, building on transdisciplinary research in genetic alterations, microRNA, and exosomes for disease progression from inflammation to cancer.[3][4] Early traction includes advancing Diakine-DK210 to Phase 1 and preclinical assets, positioning Deka for partnerships.[1][5]
Deka rides the cytokine therapy wave in immuno-oncology and autoimmunity, where trends like bispecific antibodies and personalized medicine address failures of broad immunotherapies amid rising cancer incidence and inflammatory disease prevalence.[1][2][5] Timing aligns with advances in precision targeting (e.g., ADCs, fusion proteins), fueled by market forces like regulatory nods for cytokine mods and demand for safer alternatives to checkpoint inhibitors.[1][3] Deka influences the ecosystem by pioneering dual-cytokine fusions—anti-inflammatory for inflammation, stimulatory-suppressive for tumors—potentially setting standards for patient-stratified trials and attracting pharma partnerships in a $100B+ biologics market.[5]
Deka's near-term focus will likely advance Diakine-DK210 through Phase 1 readouts (2026+), expand preclinical assets into INDs, and secure partnerships for its modular platform, capitalizing on cytokine resurgence.[1][5] Trends like AI-driven patient selection and exosome integration from its advisors could accelerate growth, evolving Deka from pipeline biotech to immuno-therapy leader.[3] As personalized cytokine therapies mature, Deka's tissue-enriching approach positions it to transform outcomes in cancer and inflammation, fulfilling its promise of a Diakine™ for every patient.[5]
Deka Biosciences has raised $20.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $20.0M Series B in September 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2023 | $20.0M Series B | MPM Capital |