Verismo Therapeutics

Verismo Therapeutics is a biotechnology startup founded in 2020, headquartered in the United States. The company's mission, as reflected in their slogan "The team that invented the first FDA-approved CAR-T therapy is back to revolutionize the space with the KIR-CAR," is to pioneer the development of novel chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that enhance T-cell-based cellular immunotherapy for cancer, particularly targeting non-hematologic malignancies with limited treatment options. Verismo Therapeutics' innovative approach is centered around the development of SynKIR™-T cells, which are created by introducing KIR-based CARs (KIR-CARs) into T cells. These CARs are uniquely engineered to closely mimic the natural multichain design of killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs), a crucial family of immunologic receptors utilized by T cells and NK cells. The startup recently secured a significant milestone by closing a $17.00M Seed Round investment on 18 July 2023, with DongKoo Bio&Pharma and Hong Leong Bank participating as key investors. This substantial injection of funds not only underscores investor confidence in Verismo Therapeutics' pioneering approach but also provides the necessary capital to advance their groundbreaking technology. The company's preclinical studies have shown promising results, demonstrating that their KIR-CARs more effectively eliminate aggressive tumors in vivo compared to existing FDA-approved CAR-T cell therapies. Verismo Therapeutics operates at the intersection of biotechnology and health care, aiming to address critical unmet medical needs in the field of cancer immunotherapy through their innovative CAR-T cell technology. With this recent investment, the company is poised to further propel its research and development efforts, potentially reshaping the landscape of cancer treatment.