Pheast Therapeutics is a technology company.
Pheast Therapeutics has raised $76.0M across 1 funding round.
Pheast Therapeutics has raised $76.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Pheast Therapeutics has raised $76.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Pheast Therapeutics's investors include 2xN, 5AM Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, Angel investor, ARCH Venture Partners, Catalio Capital, Haun Ventures, Hercules Capital, Highbury Group, Ulu Ventures, What If Ventures, WndrCo LLC.
Pheast Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing macrophage-focused immunotherapies to treat aggressive cancers and immune disorders by blocking "don't eat me" signals like CD24 on tumor cells.[1][2][3] Its lead candidate, PHST001, is an anti-CD24 monoclonal antibody that enables macrophages to phagocytose cancer cells, showing preclinical efficacy in ovarian, breast, and other solid tumors, with a Phase 1 trial underway for advanced solid neoplasms.[3][5][6] Pheast serves oncology patients with unmet needs in immunotherapy-resistant cancers, addressing immune evasion in the tumor microenvironment through a discovery platform for novel checkpoints, backed by investors like Catalio Capital.[2][4]
The company builds a pipeline including PHST001 and preclinical assets, leveraging innate immunity expertise to combine macrophage inhibitors with chemotherapies, radiation, and ADCs for synergistic effects.[3][5] Early momentum includes potent preclinical tumor clearance data and clinical trial initiation by March 2025, positioning Pheast to expand precision options in immuno-oncology.[4][6]
Pheast Therapeutics emerged from foundational research in the Weissman Lab at Stanford University's Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, where co-founders trained under Dr. Irv Weissman and discovered CD24 as a key immune checkpoint (published in Nature 2019).[1][4] Inspired by personal connections to cancer in families and communities, the team—led by innate immunity and immunotherapy experts—spun out to translate these discoveries into therapies, with Catalio Capital initiating the company.[1][2]
Key leadership includes scientists like those behind CD24 identification, alongside operational experts in clinical development and protein sciences.[1] Early traction came from preclinical models demonstrating macrophage-mediated tumor clearance in triple-negative breast and ovarian cancers, fueling a robust pipeline and Phase 1 advancement.[2][3][4]
Pheast rides the innate immunity wave in immuno-oncology, shifting from T-cell focus (e.g., PD-1) to macrophages, which comprise 50% of tumor immune cells but are often suppressed.[2][3][4] Timing aligns with failures of existing therapies in "cold" solid tumors like ovarian and breast cancers, where CD24 overexpression enables evasion—human genetics and cancer data underscore its role.[3]
Market forces favor Pheast: rising demand for combination immunotherapies, biomarker-driven precision (e.g., CD24 expression), and macrophage platforms from Big Pharma (e.g., similar efforts at Incyte, Gilead).[3][5] It influences the ecosystem by validating new checkpoints, potentially expanding macrophage therapies' addressable market in hard-to-treat indications and inspiring ADC-macrophage hybrids.[2][6]
Pheast is poised for Phase 1 readouts in 2026 from its March 2025 trial start, with potential monotherapy or combo data in CD24-high tumors driving partnerships or Series A/B funding.[5][6] Trends like AI-enabled checkpoint discovery and multi-modal therapies (e.g., with ADCs) will accelerate its platform, targeting autoimmune extensions.[3]
Influence may evolve from niche innovator to pipeline leader if PHST001 shows durable responses, redefining macrophage roles and filling gaps in solid tumor immunotherapy—ultimately defying cancer for patients long underserved by T-cell dominance.[1][2][4]
Pheast Therapeutics has raised $76.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $76.0M Series A in April 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2022 | $76.0M Series A | 2xN, 5AM Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, Angel investor, ARCH Venture Partners, Catalio Capital, Haun Ventures, Hercules Capital, Highbury Group, Ulu Ventures, What If Ventures, WndrCo LLC |