ArsenalBio
ArsenalBio is a clinical-stage programmable cell therapy company using CRISPR-based CITE gene editing and synthetic biology modules to develop integrated circuit T cell therapies for solid tumors including ovarian, kidney, and prostate cancers, with revenue generated through Big Pharma co-development partnerships with Bristol Myers Squibb and Genentech.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersSouth San Francisco, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ArsenalBio does
Arsenal Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage programmable cell therapy company developing integrated circuit T (ICT) cell therapies for solid tumors, founded in 2019 as a spinout of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) and headquartered in South San Francisco, California with a secondary operational site in Hayward. The company's core technology platform combines CITE (CRISPR Integration of Transgene via Electroporation), a non-viral gene delivery method enabling precise insertion of large DNA payloads (up to 11kb) into a defined Chromosome 11 safe harbor locus, with synthetic biology modules including PrimeR logic gating (requiring dual antigen recognition to reduce off-tumor toxicity), Synthetic Pathway Activators (SPAs) for enhanced T cell potency and persistence, and shRNA cassettes to armor T cells against immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments. Its clinical pipeline includes AB-1015 (platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, Phase 1), AB-2100 (clear-cell renal cell carcinoma, Phase 1/2, FDA Fast Track designation), AB-3028 (metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, Phase 1/2), preclinical AB-7000, and the BMS-partnered AB-4000 series.
The company operates a pre-revenue business model generating income exclusively through strategic pharmaceutical collaborations — multi-program discovery agreements with Bristol Myers Squibb (initiated December 2020, expanded January 2022, with BMS exercising exclusive license for AB-4000 series in January 2025) and Genentech/Roche (multi-year collaboration since September 2022 with approximately $70 million upfront). Total funding raised is approximately $700 million across Series A ($85M in 2019), Series B ($220M in 2022), and Series C ($325M in 2024) from a syndicate including Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Westlake Village BioPartners, Kleiner Perkins, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, ARCH Venture Partners, Regeneron Ventures, NVIDIA's NVentures, and T. Rowe Price. The go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales through Big Pharma co-development partnerships; ArsenalBio discovers and develops preclinical candidates while partners obtain exclusive worldwide licenses for development and commercialization. The company employs approximately 265 staff across its two Bay Area facilities.
ArsenalBio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ArsenalBio
- Legal name
- Arsenal Biosciences, Inc.
- Website
- https://arsenalbio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- ArsenalBio is a clinical-stage programmable cell therapy company using CRISPR-based CITE gene editing and synthetic biology modules to develop integrated circuit T cell therapies for solid tumors including ovarian, kidney, and prostate cancers, with revenue generated through Big Pharma co-development partnerships with Bristol Myers Squibb and Genentech.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ArsenalBio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cellular Immunotherapy for Solid Tumors
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Synthetic Biology & Genetic Circuit Design Platforms (pathway engineering, chassis development) (HLAAAIAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Gene Therapy CMC/Process Development Platforms (capsid engineering, producer cell lines, plasmids, upstream/downstream) (HLAAACAN)
Keywords
Where ArsenalBio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- South San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
ArsenalBio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Partnership and Milestone Payments: Pre-revenue biotech company generating income through strategic pharmaceutical partnerships. Receives upfront payments, research and development milestones, regulatory milestones, and potential royalties on commercial sales from collaboration agreements with Bristol Myers Squibb and Genentech.
- Equity Financing: Private company financing rounds including Series A ($85M in 2019), Series B ($220M in 2022), and Series C ($325M in 2024) to fund clinical development and operations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
ArsenalBio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ArsenalBio is a clinical-stage programmable cell therapy company developing autologous integrated circuit T (ICT) cell therapies for solid tumors. Its core offering combines a proprietary CITE non-viral CRISPR-based gene insertion platform with synthetic biology modules (logic gating, shRNA cassettes, Synthetic Pathway Activators) to engineer patient T cells with multi-functional therapeutic circuits. The company operates a clinical pipeline in ovarian, kidney, and prostate cancers and monetizes assets through strategic co-development partnerships with Bristol Myers Squibb and Genentech.
Product overview
ArsenalBio is a clinical-stage programmable cell therapy company developing a pipeline of integrated circuit T (ICT) cell therapies for solid tumors. The company's platform combines CITE (CRISPR Integration of Transgene via Electroporation) technology with synthetic biology tools including logic gating, shRNA modules, and synthetic pathway activators. The clinical pipeline includes AB-1015 (ovarian cancer, Phase 1), AB-2100 (clear-cell renal cell carcinoma, Phase 1/2), and AB-3028 (prostate cancer, early clinical), alongside preclinical programs AB-7000 and the BMS-partnered AB-4000 series. The company also maintains collaborations with Bristol Myers Squibb and Genentech.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- AB-1015 Autologous integrated circuit T (ICT) cell therapy for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer featuring an ALPG/MSLN logic gate and FAS/PTPN2 shRNA-miR targeting to enhance tumor specificity and resist tumor microenvironment suppression. Currently in Phase 1 clinical development for oncology patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.
- AB-2100 PSMA-inducible anti-CA9 CAR T cell therapy for clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), designed with a sequential AND logic gate requiring PSMA on tumor endothelium and CA9 on tumor cells, and incorporating shRNAs and Synthetic Pathway Activators for enhanced potency. In Phase 1/2 with FDA Fast Track designation.
- AB-3028 Autologous CAR T cell therapy for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, utilizing ArsenalBio's logic gate and enhancement technologies similar to AB-1015 and AB-2100; currently in early clinical phase.
- AB-7000 Preclinical-stage therapeutic candidate with undisclosed indication; built on ArsenalBio's synthetic biology toolkit of logic gates, shRNA cassettes, and Synthetic Pathway Activators.
- AB-4000 Series Next-generation T cell therapy programs generated under the Bristol Myers Squibb multi-program discovery collaboration, utilizing ArsenalBio's proprietary synthetic biology toolkit including PrimeR logic gates and shRNA cassettes. Licensed exclusively worldwide to Bristol Myers Squibb for development and commercialization.
Companies that use ArsenalBio
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
ArsenalBio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
ArsenalBio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.
- Thermo Fisher ScientificsupportingEarly collaborator using Gibco CTS Compleo Fill and Finish System for automated, functionally closed cell therapy manufacturing formulation and filling. Integrates closed-system manufacturing into autologous cell therapy processes.
- Genentech (Roche)coreMulti-year discovery collaboration (September 2022) to identify features of successful T-cell therapies. ArsenalBio received $70 million upfront with potential research, development, and commercial milestones. Companies deploying ArsenalBio's proprietary screening and T cell engineering technology with Genentech to study effective T cell modifications.
- Bristol Myers SquibbcoreMulti-program discovery collaboration (December 2020) to advance next-generation T cell therapies for solid tumors. ArsenalBio discovers and builds preclinical candidates against multiple targets; BMS has option to obtain exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize. Expanded in January 2022 with new program initiation, and January 2025 with BMS exercising exclusive license option for AB-4000 series.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ArsenalBio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Caribou Biosciences: Clinical-stage company developing allogeneic CAR-T cell therapies using CRISPR-based gene editing, directly comparable to ArsenalBio's CRISPR-enabled T cell engineering approach, though Caribou focuses on allogeneic platforms and hematologic malignancies plus some solid tumors.
- CRISPR Therapeutics: Pioneer in CRISPR/Cas9-based gene-edited cell therapies (Casgevy approval with Vertex for sickle cell) and is advancing allogeneic CAR-T programs for hematologic and solid tumors, making it a direct comparator to ArsenalBio's CRISPR-engineered T cell platform.
- Allogene Therapeutics: Clinical-stage allogeneic CAR-T company with programs across hematologic and solid tumors using TALEN-based gene editing; directly comparable as a next-generation engineered cell therapy peer pursuing similar oncology indications.
- Adaptimmune Therapeutics: Develops engineered TCR-T cell therapies for solid tumors (Tecelra approved for synovial sarcoma), sharing ArsenalBio's focus on cell therapy for solid tumor indications with a similarly engineered autologous platform.
- Editas Medicine: Clinical-stage gene editing company developing CRISPR-based cell therapies including edited T cell and NK cell programs for oncology; comparable as a CRISPR-engineered cell therapy developer with overlapping scientific foundations.
- Lyell Immunopharma: Clinical-stage cell therapy company focused on solid tumors using engineered T cells with proprietary technologies to overcome exhaustion and persistence challenges, directly comparable to ArsenalBio's approach to solid tumor CAR-T.
Emerging players
- Fate Therapeutics: Develops off-the-shelf iPSC-derived NK and T cell therapies for cancer, representing an alternative next-generation cell therapy platform that competes for the same solid tumor opportunity with a potentially more scalable allogeneic model.
- Adicet Bio: Clinical-stage allogeneic gamma-delta CAR-T and CAR-NK company with oncology programs including solid tumor indications; competes for the engineered cell therapy space with a potentially more scalable off-the-shelf manufacturing approach.
- Precision BioSciences: Clinical-stage gene editing company using its proprietary ARCUS platform to develop allogeneic CAR-T cell therapies for oncology; comparable as a gene-editing-enabled engineered cell therapy developer with overlapping scientific approach.
Broad incumbents
- Iovance Biotherapeutics: Commercial-stage leader in tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy for solid tumors (Amtagvi approval in melanoma), representing an established autologous cell therapy incumbent addressing the same solid tumor opportunity as ArsenalBio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ArsenalBio social profiles
Digital presenceArsenalBio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ArsenalBio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
ArsenalBio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors25 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ArsenalBio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ArsenalBio
What does ArsenalBio do?
ArsenalBio is a clinical-stage programmable cell therapy company developing autologous integrated circuit T (ICT) cell therapies for solid tumors. Its core offering combines a proprietary CITE non-viral CRISPR-based gene insertion platform with synthetic biology modules (logic gating, shRNA cassettes, Synthetic Pathway Activators) to engineer patient T cells with multi-functional therapeutic circuits. The company operates a clinical pipeline in ovarian, kidney, and prostate cancers and monetizes assets through strategic co-development partnerships with Bristol Myers Squibb and Genentech.
Is ArsenalBio a public or private company?
ArsenalBio is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was ArsenalBio founded?
ArsenalBio was founded in 2019. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is ArsenalBio based?
ArsenalBio is headquartered in South San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does ArsenalBio make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Partnership and Milestone Payments are the primary driver. The others are equity Financing.
Who are ArsenalBio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Caribou Biosciences, CRISPR Therapeutics, Allogene Therapeutics, Adaptimmune Therapeutics, Editas Medicine and Lyell Immunopharma. Emerging players are Fate Therapeutics, Adicet Bio and Precision BioSciences. Iovance Biotherapeutics is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does ArsenalBio have an API?
No public API is recorded for ArsenalBio.
What industry is ArsenalBio in?
ArsenalBio's product category is Cellular Immunotherapy for Solid Tumors. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAIAD, Synthetic Biology & Genetic Circuit Design Platforms (pathway engineering, chassis development), with a secondary code of HLAAACAN, Gene Therapy CMC/Process Development Platforms (capsid engineering, producer cell lines, plasmids, upstream/downstream). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 2836.