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§ Public · Boston, MA, USA
Pyxis Oncology is a technology company.
Pyxis Oncology has raised $172.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at Pyxis Oncology.
Pyxis Oncology has raised $172.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Pyxis Oncology is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation therapeutics to address challenging cancers. The firm focuses on advancing a differentiated portfolio of biologics, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and other antibody-based immunotherapies, specifically designed to target tumor cells in difficult-to-treat solid tumors. Their technical approach emphasizes precision and efficacy to improve patient outcomes.
The company was founded in 2019 by Longwood Fund, with the underlying concept developed by Dr. Thomas Gajewski in partnership with the University of Chicago's Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. This collaboration aimed to translate cutting-edge scientific insights into novel therapeutic strategies. The founding insight centered on harnessing the potential of new antibody-based immunotherapies to address unmet needs in oncology.
Pyxis Oncology aims to serve cancer patients by providing innovative treatments that transform their lives. The company’s long-term vision is to establish a leading presence in the oncology landscape by continually advancing its clinical assets, ultimately improving the quality of life for individuals battling various forms of cancer.
Pyxis Oncology is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation therapeutics, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and monoclonal antibody (mAb) immunotherapies, to target difficult-to-treat cancers and improve patient outcomes.[1][4] It serves cancer patients by advancing a differentiated portfolio of clinical assets that specifically target tumor cells and overcome immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment (TME), addressing unmet needs in cancers unresponsive to existing therapies.[1][2][4] The company has demonstrated growth momentum through recent positive preliminary Phase 1 data for its lead ADC candidate, micvotabart pelidotin (MICVO), in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma as of December 2025, alongside active pipeline development and participation in investor conferences.[4]
Pyxis Oncology was founded in 2019 by Longwood Fund, with initial financing led by Bayer, building on the groundbreaking research of Dr. Thomas Gajewski, a leading expert in T cell immunology who has studied the tumor microenvironment for over two decades.[2] Dr. Gajewski's work unlocked new insights into turning immunologically "cold" tumors "hot" by restoring T cell activity, leading Pyxis to identify novel immunoregulatory targets distinct from traditional models derived from infectious disease research.[2] Early traction came from preclinical proof-of-concept studies validating these targets for potential monotherapies or combinations, establishing a pipeline of antibodies focused on tumor-reactive T cells.[2] The company has since assembled a world-class management team with deep oncology R&D experience, successfully building public biotech firms and advancing innovative medicines.[1]
Pyxis rides the surging wave of precision oncology, particularly ADCs and next-gen immunotherapies, amid market forces favoring targeted therapies for resistant cancers where traditional treatments fail.[1][3][4] Timing is ideal as ADC technology matures—enabling direct tumor targeting—and IO evolves beyond PD-1 inhibitors to address immune-cold tumors, a large unmet need highlighted by Pyxis's TME expertise.[2][4] This positions Pyxis to influence the ecosystem by expanding treatable patient populations, fostering combinations with existing therapies, and contributing preclinical/clinical data that could redefine standards for hard-to-treat solid tumors like head and neck cancers.[4]
Pyxis Oncology is poised for pipeline milestones, with MICVO Phase 1 data signaling potential registration paths and broader ADC/IO combinations on the horizon.[4] Trends like ADC payload innovations and TME-targeted combos will shape its trajectory, potentially amplifying influence through partnerships or approvals that serve underserved patients. As it liberates science to cure cancer, Pyxis stands out in oncology's high-stakes race, transforming difficult-to-treat cases into addressable opportunities.[1]
Key people at Pyxis Oncology.
Pyxis Oncology has raised $172.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $150.0M Series B in March 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2021 | $150M Series B | Christian Schetter, Gotham Makker | Pfizer Venture Investments, Acuta Capital Partners, Agent Capital, BVF Partners, Cormorant Asset Management, HBM Healthcare Investments, Janus Henderson Investors, Laurion Capital Management, Leaps BY Bayer, Lifesci Venture Partners, Logos Capital, Longwood Fund, Perceptive Advisors, RA Capital Management, Ridgeback Capital Investments, Surveyor Capital, Tekla Capital Management | Announced |
| Jul 1, 2019 | $22M Series A | Bayer | Agent Capital, Longwood Fund, Ipsen | Announced |
Pyxis Oncology has raised $172.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Pyxis Oncology's investors include Christian Schetter, gotham makker, Pfizer Venture Investments, Acuta Capital Partners, Agent Capital, BVF Partners, Cormorant Asset Management, HBM Healthcare Investments, Janus Henderson Investors, Laurion Capital Management, Leaps by Bayer, LifeSci Venture Partners.
