Umoja Biopharma is a technology company.
Umoja Biopharma has raised $153.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Umoja Biopharma has raised $153.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Umoja Biopharma has raised $153.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Umoja Biopharma's investors include Longwood Fund, MPM Capital.
Umoja Biopharma is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing in vivo CAR T-cell therapies to treat cancer by reprogramming patients' T cells directly inside the body, targeting solid tumors and hematological malignancies.[1][2][3] It serves cancer patients underserved by current ex vivo therapies, solving key problems like lengthy manufacturing timelines (weeks to months), high costs, limited access, and the need for specialized centers through its VivoVec platform, which enables immediate, off-the-shelf treatment via a single infusion.[2][3][4] The company has raised $363M total, including a $100M Series C round four months ago, operates at Series C stage, and was named one of 2025's most promising biotechs by Endpoints News and Fierce Biotech, signaling strong growth momentum amid advancing clinical programs.[1][3]
Umoja Biopharma was founded in 2019 in Seattle, Washington, based on pioneering research from Seattle Children's Research Institute and Purdue University.[1][4] Key figure Andrew Scharenberg, M.D., co-founder and CEO, has led the company from its inception, emphasizing unity in science, manufacturing, and partnerships to advance in vivo therapies.[3] The idea emerged from integrated technologies like the VivoVec in vivo delivery platform, RACR/CAR expansion/control system, and TumorTag targeting, designed to retool the immune system against cancer more accessibly than ex vivo methods; early traction included rapid funding and the 2023 opening of its in-house manufacturing facility.[2][4][5]
Umoja rides the in vivo cell therapy wave, shifting from resource-intensive ex vivo CAR T (e.g., Novartis, Gilead) to patient-friendly, scalable alternatives amid a market projected to grow with 12 preclinical and 14 discovery-stage in vivo CAR-T assets for similar indications.[1][3] Timing aligns with post-2025 trial readouts (e.g., competitors like EsoBiotec's Phase I), where decentralized manufacturing addresses ex vivo limitations like long wait times; market forces like rising cancer incidence and immunotherapy demand favor Umoja's model.[1] It influences the ecosystem by pioneering integrated platforms, in-house vectors, and recognitions that attract partners, potentially displacing legacy CAR Ts and expanding access in oncology/autoimmunity.[2][3][5]
Umoja's clinical-stage momentum, in-house scalability, and 2025 accolades position it for near-term trial data readouts and partnerships, with VivoVec enabling first-in-human studies and commercial pivots.[1][3][5] Trends like in vivo engineering advances and autoimmunity expansion will shape its path, potentially evolving it into a CAR T leader as ex vivo hurdles persist. Watch for Phase I results and supply chain deals tying back to its mission of equitable, potent therapies.[2][3]
Umoja Biopharma has raised $153.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $100.0M Series C in January 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2025 | $100.0M Series C | Longwood Fund, MPM Capital | |
| Nov 1, 2020 | $53.0M Series A | Longwood Fund, MPM Capital |