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§ Private Profile · South San Francisco, CA, USA
Pionyr Immunotherapeutics is a technology company.
Pionyr Immunotherapeutics develops antibody therapeutics enhancing anti-tumor immunity. Its "Myeloid Tuning™" strategy rebalances myeloid cell populations in the tumor microenvironment. Leveraging novel target discovery and antibody platforms, Pionyr converts immune-suppressing into immune-activating environments, aiming to improve cancer treatment responses and advance immuno-oncology therapies.
Founded in 2015, Pionyr was co-established by Max Krummel, Ph.D., a UC San Francisco professor and immuno-oncology pioneer (co-inventor of YERVOY®), and Sachdev Sidhu, Ph.D., a protein engineering and antibody phage-display expert. Their insight identified critical myeloid cell rebalancing potential to bolster anti-tumor immune responses.
Pionyr’s therapeutic candidates target cancer patients, seeking improved outcomes via tumor microenvironment modulation. The company envisions a robust pipeline of novel antibody therapeutics against specific microenvironmental targets. Advancing candidates clinically, Pionyr aims for substantial impact across diverse cancer indications.
Pionyr Immunotherapeutics has raised $70.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Pionyr Immunotherapeutics has raised $70.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Pionyr Immunotherapeutics has raised $70.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $62.0M Series B in December 2017.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 2017 | $62M Series B | NEW Enterprise Associates | Bigspring, Canaan Partners, Mohr Davidow Ventures, Morgenthaler Ventures, Omega Funds, The Column Group, VenBio Partners, Vida Ventures, Mission BAY Capital, Leon Chen, Osage University Partners, Michael Powell, Joshua Resnick | Announced |
| Jan 1, 2017 | $8M Series A | Leon Chen, Michael Ross | The Column Group, Bill Rieflin, John Freund, Stephen J. Hoffman, Steve James, Yasunori Kaneko, Mission BAY Capital, Osage University Partners | Announced |
Pionyr Immunotherapeutics has raised $70.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Pionyr Immunotherapeutics's investors include New Enterprise Associates, BigSpring, Canaan Partners, Mohr Davidow Ventures, Morgenthaler Ventures, Omega Funds, The Column Group, venBio, Vida Ventures, Mission Bay Capital, Leon Chen, Osage University Partners.
Pionyr Immunotherapeutics was a clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2015 that developed cancer immunotherapies targeting the tumor microenvironment to enhance the body's antitumor immunity.[1][2][3] It focused on first-in-class biologic drugs, such as monoclonal antibodies like PY-265 (targeting MARCO for solid tumors in preclinical stages), to fine-tune immune responses against cancer while minimizing immunosuppressive needs.[2][4] The company served oncology patients by addressing limitations in existing immunotherapies, converting immunosuppressive tumor environments into ones conducive to immune attack, and raised $345M before its acquisition by Ikena Oncology in August 2023.[1]
Pionyr Immunotherapeutics, formerly known as Precision Immune, emerged in 2015 in South San Francisco, California, as a biotech venture discovering novel antibody therapeutics to alter the tumor microenvironment.[1][2][5] Specific founders are not detailed in available records, but the company quickly advanced to clinical-stage development, attracting major investors like NEA and securing significant funding rounds totaling $345M.[1][3] A pivotal moment came with its acquisition by Ikena Oncology in August 2023, marking the culmination of its independent trajectory amid a competitive immuno-oncology landscape.[1]
Pionyr rode the immuno-oncology wave, capitalizing on trends in tumor microenvironment modulation to overcome "cold tumor" resistance—a key market force limiting checkpoint inhibitors' efficacy.[1][2][4] Its timing aligned with surging VC interest in precision biologics post-2015, amid advances in myeloid cell targeting and antibody engineering, influencing the ecosystem by validating TME-focused pipelines now advanced by acquirers like Ikena Oncology.[1][3] This contributed to a shift toward combination therapies that integrate TME reprogramming with existing standards, amplifying biotech innovation in solid tumor treatments.[5]
Post-acquisition by Ikena Oncology in 2023, Pionyr's assets like PY-265 likely integrate into expanded immuno-oncology pipelines, potentially accelerating Phase 1 trials amid rising demand for TME-targeted combos.[1][4] Trends in myeloid checkpoint inhibitors and AI-driven drug discovery will shape its legacy, evolving influence through Ikena's platform to tackle drug-resistant cancers. This positions the technology to enhance antitumor immunity at scale, building on Pionyr's foundational role in a maturing biotech field.[2][3]