Numab
Numab Therapeutics AG is a Swiss clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that develops proprietary multi-specific antibody therapeutics for inflammatory diseases and oncology using its λ-Cap™ and MATCH™ platforms, partnering with global pharmaceutical companies for late-stage development and commercialization.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersWadenswil, Switzerland
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Numab does
Numab Therapeutics AG is a privately held Swiss clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2011 and headquartered in Horgen, Switzerland, that develops multi-specific antibody-based therapeutics for severe inflammatory diseases and oncology. The company's core technology consists of two proprietary platforms: λ-Cap™, a stability-conferring Fv acceptor scaffold, and MATCH™ (Multispecific Antibody-based Therapeutics by Cognate Heterodimerization), a modular plug-and-play scaffolding system that can incorporate up to six binding specificities in a single molecule. Numab supplements its discovery engine with an ultra-high throughput rabbit antibody discovery platform that characterizes full antibody repertoires in days, combined with structure-guided engineering for half-life extension and reduced anti-drug antibody reactivity.
Numab operates a partnership-driven business model rather than commercializing products directly. Revenue derives from licensing agreements and co-development deals with pharmaceutical partners, including upfront payments, milestone payments, and royalties. The company retains certain regional co-development rights and selectively spins out pipeline assets into subsidiaries that can be acquired outright. A landmark $1.25 billion acquisition of subsidiary Yellow Jersey Therapeutics (holding NM26) by Johnson & Johnson in May 2024 validated the platform commercially. Active partnerships span Boehringer Ingelheim (oncology and geographic atrophy), Kaken Pharmaceutical (NM81 for IBD in Asian territories), Ono Pharmaceutical (multiple immuno-oncology programs worth up to CHF 260 million in potential milestones), CStone, 3SBio/Sunshine Guojian, Eisai, and Mage Biologics.
Numab's pipeline includes clinical-stage programs such as NM21-1480 (tri-specific PD-L1/4-1BB/HSA for oncology), NM32 (ROR1 T-cell engager, Phase 1 initiated October 2024), and NM81 (multispecific for IBD, partnered with Kaken), alongside partnered programs ND059 and ND047 with Boehringer Ingelheim. The company is led by newly appointed CEO Barbara Angehrn Pavik (effective September 2025), who succeeded founder David Urech, with a board chaired by Carlo Incerti (Forbion Operating Partner). Numab is backed by institutional investors including Novo Holdings, HBM Partners, Forbion, Cormorant, BVF Partners, RTW Investments, and BlackRock, having raised CHF 180 million in total Series C financing completed in January 2025.
Numab firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Numab
- Legal name
- Numab Therapeutics AG
- Website
- https://numab.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Numab Therapeutics AG is a Swiss clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that develops proprietary multi-specific antibody therapeutics for inflammatory diseases and oncology using its λ-Cap™ and MATCH™ platforms, partnering with global pharmaceutical companies for late-stage development and commercialization.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Numab industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Multispecific Antibody Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Antibody Discovery & Engineering Platforms (display tech, bispecifics, Fc engineering) (HLAAAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics (mAbs) (HLAAAAAA), Dendritic Cell & Other APC-based Therapies (HLAAABAF), Oncology Gene Therapies (incl. oncolytic vectors & gene-modified approaches) (HLAAACAF)
Keywords
Where Numab is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wadenswil
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Numab business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Licensing and Co-development Agreements: Numab enters into licensing and co-development agreements with pharmaceutical partners where partners receive rights to develop and commercialize candidates in exchange for upfront payments, milestone payments, and royalty payments on net sales. Examples include Kaken Pharmaceutical (NM81 for IBD in Asian territories), Boehringer Ingelheim (ND059 for geographic atrophy, ND047 for GI cancer), and multiple historical partnerships.
- M&A / Asset Acquisition: Numab generates significant value through acquisition of its subsidiary companies and pipeline assets. Johnson & Johnson's $1.25 billion acquisition of Yellow Jersey Therapeutics (holding NM26 rights for atopic dermatitis) in 2024 represents a major exit event.
- Research Grants: The company has received non-dilutive funding from Swiss government sources including CTI (Commission for Technology and Innovation) grants for research activities.
- Equity Financing: Numab has raised multiple equity rounds including Series B (CHF 22M in 2020), Series C (CHF 100M in 2021), and Series C extension (CHF 50M in 2025) bringing total Series C to CHF 180M. Funding led by Novo Holdings, HBM Partners, Forbion, and other institutional investors.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Numab product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Numab Therapeutics AG is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing multi-specific antibody-based immunotherapies for severe inflammatory diseases and cancer. The company applies its proprietary λ-Cap™ and MATCH™ platforms to engineer bi- and tri-specific antibody candidates with tailored pharmacokinetics, advancing them through preclinical and clinical development. Numab monetizes its pipeline primarily through licensing and co-development agreements with large pharmaceutical partners, granting development and commercialization rights in exchange for upfront payments, milestones, and royalties.
Product overview
Numab Therapeutics AG is a biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation multispecific antibody-based immunotherapies for inflammation and cancer. The company's proprietary plug-and-play platform combines two core technologies: λ-Cap™ (a modular scaffolding technology providing unprecedented stability) and MATCH™ (Multispecific Antibody-based Therapeutics by Cognate Heterodimerization). These platforms enable the repeatable generation of mono- or multispecific antibody fragment-based therapeutics with tailored pharmacokinetic properties. Numab's proprietary pipeline includes programs such as NM26 (bispecific for atopic dermatitis), NM32 (T-cell engager for solid tumors), NM81 (multispecific for IBD), and ND021/NM21-1480 (trispecific for immuno-oncology targeting PD-L1, 4-1BB, and Serum Albumin). The company also advances partnered programs with Boehringer Ingelheim, Kaken Pharmaceutical, Ono Pharmaceutical, and others, while some programs have been successfully out-licensed (NM26 acquired by Johnson & Johnson) or partnered globally (NM09 with Mage Biologics, NM28 with 3SBio/Sunshine Guojian).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- NM26 (NM26-2198)
Quantifiable outcome
- $1.25 billion acquisition value for NM26 (atopic dermatitis candidate)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Numab
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Numab technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Numab partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Kaken PharmaceuticalcoreLicensing and co-development agreement for NM81, a multispecific antibody for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Kaken exercised option to acquire rights for select Asian territories and commits to funding global development into clinical trials. Both companies collaboratively advance the drug through clinical trials with Kaken funding development. Represents expansion of earlier 2017 collaboration.
- Johnson & JohnsonmajorJ&J acquired Numab's wholly-owned subsidiary Yellow Jersey Therapeutics, including rights to NM26 (bi-specific antibody for atopic dermatitis), for $1.25 billion. J&J gained full rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize globally.
- Boehringer IngelheimcoreResearch collaboration and worldwide licensing agreement for multi-specific antibody therapeutics targeting difficult-to-treat lung and gastrointestinal cancers and geographic atrophy (GA). Boehringer Ingelheim brings expertise in breakthrough therapy development. Collaboration includes multiple projects with ND059 (retinal diseases) and ND047 (T-cell engager for GI cancer) in the pipeline. Boehringer advanced multiple programs into preclinical development, triggering milestone payments to Numab.
- Ono PharmaceuticalcoreMultiple research and option agreements for multi-specific antibody candidates in immuno-oncology. Ono has option to acquire exclusive rights to develop and commercialize candidates. Agreements include potential CHF 260 million in upfront and milestone payments plus tiered royalties. Third collaboration agreement announced in 2024 for NM49 (tumor associated macrophage phagocytosis program).
- 3SBio / Sunshine GuojianmajorPartnership for development and commercialization of novel multi-specific cancer antibodies. Sunshine Guojian invested CHF 15M in Numab's Series B. Exercise of option for exclusive regional license for NM28, a best-in-class bivalent mesothelin-targeting CD3 T cell engager.
- EisaimajorGlobal research and option agreement to discover and develop novel multi-specific antibody immunotherapies for cancer using Numab's MATCH™ platform.
- CStone PharmaceuticalsmajorExclusive regional licensing agreement for ND021 (NM21-1480), a tri-specific antibody targeting PD-L1, 4-1BB, and HSA for cancer treatment. CStone acquired rights for development and commercialization in Greater China and Singapore.
- Intarcia TherapeuticsmajorLicense agreement for ND016 (autoimmune disorders) with Intarcia receiving worldwide rights. Potential payments of up to CHF 70 million plus double-digit tiered royalties. Collaboration initiated in 2015 for antibody-based therapeutics addressing diabetes, obesity, and autoimmune indications.
- Tillotts PharmaminorExclusive global licensing agreement to develop and commercialize new antibody-based therapies targeting TNF-α for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- Swiss Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI)minorSwiss government research grant of CHF 895,000 supporting research on antibody-based approaches for therapy of ion channel-driven health disorders, conducted in collaboration with Zürich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW). CTI Start-up Label awarded in 2012.
- Mage BiologicsminorLicense agreement for NM09, an anti-TNF antibody fragment for inflammatory bowel disease, to Mage Biologics for development and commercialization of innovative formulations.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Numab competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Molecular Partners: Swiss clinical-stage biotech developing multi-specific DARPin-based therapeutics for oncology and infectious diseases. Directly comparable to Numab as a Switzerland-based, similarly-sized biotech using proprietary multi-specific protein scaffold technology to partner with large pharma.
- Genmab: Global leader in bispecific antibody therapeutics (DuoBody platform) and antibody drug conjugates. Closely comparable to Numab's multi-specific antibody platform approach, with broader pipeline and approved products including daratumumab.
- Zymeworks: Clinical-stage biotech with proprietary multispecific antibody platforms (Azymetric, EFECT) targeting oncology and inflammatory diseases. Direct competitor in multi-specific antibody engineering with similar partnership-driven business model.
- Xencor: Clinical-stage biotech with XmAb bispecific antibody platform and Fc engineering technologies, partnered with multiple large pharma companies. Directly comparable to Numab in multi-specific antibody platform approach and partnership model.
- Macrogenics: Clinical-stage biotech developing bispecific antibodies and antibody drug conjugates for cancer. Comparable to Numab in multi-specific antibody development and oncology focus.
Emerging players
- Inhibrx Biosciences: Clinical-stage biotech developing multi-domain biologic therapeutics for cancer and rare diseases. Comparable to Numab in multi-specific platform approach and partnership-driven development model.
- Adimab: Antibody discovery platform company partnering with pharma to identify fully human antibodies. Comparable to Numab's rabbit antibody discovery engine and platform-based business model, though focused on discovery rather than development.
- Compass Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing bispecific antibodies for cancer, including NK cell engagers and T-cell engagers. Comparable to Numab in multi-specific antibody approach and oncology pipeline.
- Philochem: Swiss-based biotech developing antibody-based therapeutics and small molecule drug conjugates. Comparable to Numab in multi-specific antibody discovery, Swiss biotech location, and partnership model.
Broad incumbents
- Harpoon Therapeutics (Merck): Developer of T-cell engagers using proprietary TriTAC platform for cancer, acquired by Merck in 2024. Comparable to Numab's T-cell engager programs (e.g., NM32 ROR1) and represents an example of platform value crystallization similar to the J&J/Numab deal.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Numab social profiles
Digital presenceNumab financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Numab leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles21 records
Numab funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Numab M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Numab
What does Numab do?
Numab Therapeutics AG is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing multi-specific antibody-based immunotherapies for severe inflammatory diseases and cancer. The company applies its proprietary λ-Cap™ and MATCH™ platforms to engineer bi- and tri-specific antibody candidates with tailored pharmacokinetics, advancing them through preclinical and clinical development. Numab monetizes its pipeline primarily through licensing and co-development agreements with large pharmaceutical partners, granting development and commercialization rights in exchange for upfront payments, milestones, and royalties.
Is Numab a public or private company?
Numab is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Numab founded?
Numab was founded in 2011. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Numab based?
Numab is headquartered in Wadenswil, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Numab make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Licensing and Co-development Agreements are the primary driver. The others are M&A / Asset Acquisition, research Grants and equity Financing.
Who are Numab's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Molecular Partners, Genmab, Zymeworks, Xencor and Macrogenics. Emerging players are Inhibrx Biosciences, Adimab, Compass Therapeutics and Philochem. Harpoon Therapeutics (Merck) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Numab have an API?
No public API is recorded for Numab.
What industry is Numab in?
Numab's product category is Multispecific Antibody Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAIAB, Antibody Discovery & Engineering Platforms (display tech, bispecifics, Fc engineering), with a secondary code of HLAAAAAA, Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics (mAbs). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 2836.