Verismo Therapeutics
Verismo Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing multi-chain KIR-CAR (SynKIR™) T cell therapies for solid tumors and B-cell malignancies. Founded in 2020 as a University of Pennsylvania spinout, it operates Phase 1 trials for SynKIR-110 (mesothelin-expressing solid tumors) and SynKIR-310 (B-cell NHL).
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Verismo Therapeutics does
Verismo Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2020 as a spinout from the University of Pennsylvania by the inventors of Kymriah™ — Carl June, Michael Milone, and Donald Siegel — with headquarters at 3675 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA. The company develops CAR T cell therapies for solid tumors and B-cell malignancies using a proprietary multi-chain KIR-CAR (Killer Immunoglobulin-like Receptor Chimeric Antigen Receptor) platform branded SynKIR™, which is inspired by NK cell receptor biology. The SynKIR™ construct uses a DAP12 parallel activation pathway that bypasses the conventional CD3-ζ signaling route, providing a natural on/off coupling-decoupling switch intended to reduce T cell exhaustion and sustain anti-tumor activity in solid tumor microenvironments where single-chain CAR T therapies have historically failed.
The pipeline includes SynKIR-110 (a mesothelin-targeted candidate for ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and cholangiocarcinoma in the Phase 1 STAR-101 trial, holding FDA Orphan Drug and Fast Track Designations), SynKIR-310 (a CD19-targeted candidate using the proprietary DS191 binder for relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the Phase 1 CELESTIAL-301 trial), the DS191 CD19 binder as a licensable discovery asset, and a preclinical EGFR-targeted KIR-CAR candidate for glioblastoma co-developed with the University of Pennsylvania.
Verismo is pre-revenue with no commercial product; capital is raised through private financing rounds (approximately $50 million cumulative since 2020, including $16M in 2021, $7M in February 2023, $17M in July 2023, a $150K ScaleReady grant in September 2024, a $4.05M IFLI commitment in January 2025, and a $28M HLB Innovation investment in April 2026). The company operates as a subsidiary of Korean parent HLB Innovation following a December 2024 corporate merger, and distributes investigational therapies exclusively through clinical trial enrollment at academic medical centers including the University of Pennsylvania and Colorado Blood Cancer Institute. Manufacturing and cryopreservation are outsourced to specialized partners including Penn's CVPF, Cryoport Systems' IntegriCell, ScaleReady's G-Rex platform, and Miltenyi Biotec.
Verismo Therapeutics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Verismo Therapeutics
- Legal name
- Verismo Therapeutics, Inc.
- Website
- https://verismotherapeutics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Verismo Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing multi-chain KIR-CAR (SynKIR™) T cell therapies for solid tumors and B-cell malignancies. Founded in 2020 as a University of Pennsylvania spinout, it operates Phase 1 trials for SynKIR-110 (mesothelin-expressing solid tumors) and SynKIR-310 (B-cell NHL).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Verismo Therapeutics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cell Therapy
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- CAR-T & TCR-T Therapies (HLAAABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cell Therapy Developers (Autologous) (HLAAABAA), Personalized Therapeutic Design (neoantigen vaccines, individualized cell/gene therapies) (HLAAANAK)
Keywords
Where Verismo Therapeutics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Verismo Therapeutics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Pre-revenue / no commercial revenue: Verismo Therapeutics is a clinical-stage CAR T cell therapy company with no commercial product revenue. Capital is raised through equity financing rounds (pre-Series A) and parent company (HLB Innovation) investment to advance Phase 1 clinical trials. Future revenue potential tied to successful regulatory approval and commercialization of SynKIR-110 and SynKIR-310.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Investigational therapy — clinical trial access only (no commercial pricing) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Verismo Therapeutics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Verismo Therapeutics develops investigational CAR T cell therapies for solid tumors and hematologic malignancies using its proprietary multi-chain SynKIR™ KIR-CAR platform. The company's lead clinical candidates are SynKIR-110 (mesothelin-targeted, in Phase 1 STAR-101 trial for ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and cholangiocarcinoma) and SynKIR-310 (CD19-targeted, in Phase 1 CELESTIAL-301 trial for relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma). The SynKIR™ platform is offered exclusively through Phase 1 clinical trial enrollment at academic medical centers; the company is pre-revenue and has no commercial product sales.
Product overview
Verismo Therapeutics offers a single unified KIR-CAR platform technology branded as SynKIR™, which serves as the foundation for multiple product candidates targeting both solid tumors and blood cancers. The SynKIR™ platform uses a multi-chain, NK cell-inspired KIR-CAR design that overcomes T cell exhaustion — a key limitation of prior single-chain CAR T therapies — to enable sustained anti-tumor activity in solid tumor microenvironments. Built on this platform, Verismo's lead clinical-stage products are SynKIR-110 (a mesothelin-targeted candidate for ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and cholangiocarcinoma, currently in the Phase 1 STAR-101 trial) and SynKIR-310 (a CD19-targeted candidate using the DS191 binder for relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, currently in the Phase 1 CELESTIAL-301 trial). The portfolio also includes the DS191 CD19 binder as a licensable discovery asset and a preclinical EGFR-targeted KIR-CAR candidate for glioblastoma developed with the University of Pennsylvania. The company was founded by the inventors of Kymriah™ (the first FDA-approved CAR T therapy) and operates as a spinout from the University of Pennsylvania, headquartered in Philadelphia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SynKIR-110 Lead KIR-CAR T cell therapy candidate targeting mesothelin-expressing solid tumors, including ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and cholangiocarcinoma. Currently in the Phase 1 STAR-101 clinical trial (NCT05568680) at the University of Pennsylvania; has received FDA Orphan Drug Designation (mesothelioma) and FDA Fast Track Designation. Patients access the investigational therapy via clinical trial enrollment only.
- SynKIR-310 KIR-CAR T cell therapy candidate incorporating the proprietary DS191 anti-CD19 binder, targeting relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes including DLBCL, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and marginal zone lymphoma, including post-CAR T therapy patients. Currently in the Phase 1 CELESTIAL-301 clinical trial (NCT06544265) at the University of Pennsylvania and Colorado Blood Cancer Institute, with development partnership support from the Institute for Follicular Lymphoma Innovation (IFLI).
- DS191 (anti-CD19 binder) Proprietary anti-CD19 binder discovered in exclusive research collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania that rivals commercial market alternatives. Used to construct the SynKIR-310 product candidate for B-cell malignancies, and offered by Verismo as a licensable discovery asset for partners seeking to develop new CD19-directed cell therapies.
- EGFR-targeted KIR-CAR (Glioblastoma candidate) Preclinical-stage EGFR-targeted KIR-CAR T cell therapy candidate for glioblastoma, developed in collaboration with University of Pennsylvania researchers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Complete tumor eradications in mouse models where CD3-ζ-based CAR T have failed (mesothelioma and glioblastoma)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Verismo Therapeutics
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Verismo Therapeutics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature5 records
Verismo Therapeutics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- Cryoport Systems (IntegriCell)coreCryoport Systems' IntegriCell cryopreservation services selected by Verismo Therapeutics to support clinical development of SynKIR-110 and SynKIR-310. IntegriCell will implement Verismo's proprietary cryopreservation process within its GMP-compliant quality management system to reduce variability, improve manufacturing efficiency, and preserve regulatory work for future milestones.
- Miltenyi BioteccorePartnership with Miltenyi Biotec to support advancing Verismo's clinical programs for SynKIR-110 and SynKIR-310 KIR-CAR T cell therapies.
- Colorado Blood Cancer InstituteminorActivated as a clinical trial site for the CELESTIAL-301 Phase 1 trial of SynKIR-310 in relapsed/refractory B-cell NHL.
- Center for Vaccine and Cell Production Facility (CVPF) at the University of PennsylvaniacoreManufacturing relationship with Penn's CVPF to produce Verismo's KIR-CAR T cell therapy clinical materials.
- University of PennsylvaniaflagshipExclusive research collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania that led to the discovery of two anti-CD19 binders (one named DS191). Underpins the SynKIR-310 product candidate for DLBCL post-CAR T therapy. Additional agreements include a Master Translational Research Services Agreement and a manufacturing relationship with Penn's Center for Vaccine and Cell Production Facility (CVPF). Penn researchers also co-developed an EGFR-targeted KIR-CAR for glioblastoma.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Verismo Therapeutics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Adaptimmune: Clinical-stage cell therapy company developing engineered TCR-T therapies for solid tumors, including the FDA-approved TECELRA (afami-cel) for synovial sarcoma — the first engineered cell therapy approved for a solid tumor. Most directly comparable to Verismo as a solid tumor cell therapy company with autologous manufacturing and similar regulatory pathway.
- Cabaletta Bio: Clinical-stage CAR T cell therapy company co-founded by Verismo co-founder Michael Milone, developing CD19-CAR T (CABA-201) initially for autoimmune indications. Uses a similar CAR T platform architecture with Penn-derived science and represents the closest sister company to Verismo in modality, manufacturing approach, and academic lineage.
- Iovance Biotherapeutics: Commercial-stage cell therapy company pioneering tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy for solid tumors, with FDA-approved lifileucel for advanced melanoma. Directly comparable as a solid tumor cell therapy peer competing for the same oncologist and patient population that Verismo's SynKIR-110 targets.
- Adicet Bio: Clinical-stage cell therapy company developing allogeneic gamma delta CAR T cell therapies for both hematological malignancies and solid tumors. Comparable modality (engineered immune cell therapy for cancer) and addresses similar indications in B-cell NHL where Verismo's SynKIR-310 is positioned.
- Allogene Therapeutics: Clinical-stage allogeneic CAR T cell therapy company with multiple programs in B-cell malignancies and solid tumors. Comparable as a peer CAR T developer addressing both hematological and solid tumor indications, though with an off-the-shelf rather than autologous approach.
- Precision BioSciences: Clinical-stage cell therapy company developing allogeneic CAR T cell therapies using its ARCUS gene editing platform, with programs in B-cell NHL and solid tumors. Comparable CAR T modality and similar indication overlap with Verismo's SynKIR-310 program.
- Caribou Biosciences: Clinical-stage allogeneic CAR T cell therapy company using CRISPR-based genome editing, with lead programs in B-cell malignancies. Comparable CAR T modality, target indication (B-cell NHL), and autologous/allogeneic cell therapy development model to Verismo.
- Poseida Therapeutics: Clinical-stage cell therapy company developing non-viral CAR T therapies (including allogeneic and autologous programs) for hematological malignancies and solid tumors. Comparable engineered T cell modality and overlapping development stage and clinical indication strategy.
- Lyell Immunopharma: Clinical-stage cell therapy company developing next-generation CAR T and TIL therapies engineered to overcome T cell exhaustion in solid tumors — directly addressing the same biological challenge (T cell exhaustion) that Verismo's KIR-CAR platform is designed to solve.
Emerging players
- Cellectis: Clinical-stage gene-editing company developing allogeneic UCART (universal CAR T) cell therapies for hematological malignancies and solid tumors. Comparable CAR T modality with proprietary gene editing platform, though earlier stage in solid tumor indications than Verismo's lead program.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Verismo Therapeutics social profiles
Digital presenceVerismo Therapeutics compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Verismo Therapeutics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Verismo Therapeutics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Verismo Therapeutics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Verismo Therapeutics 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 Verismo Therapeutics
What does Verismo Therapeutics do?
Verismo Therapeutics develops investigational CAR T cell therapies for solid tumors and hematologic malignancies using its proprietary multi-chain SynKIR™ KIR-CAR platform. The company's lead clinical candidates are SynKIR-110 (mesothelin-targeted, in Phase 1 STAR-101 trial for ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and cholangiocarcinoma) and SynKIR-310 (CD19-targeted, in Phase 1 CELESTIAL-301 trial for relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma). The SynKIR™ platform is offered exclusively through Phase 1 clinical trial enrollment at academic medical centers; the company is pre-revenue and has no commercial product sales.
Is Verismo Therapeutics a public or private company?
Verismo Therapeutics is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Verismo Therapeutics founded?
Verismo Therapeutics was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Verismo Therapeutics based?
Verismo Therapeutics is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Verismo Therapeutics make money?
One revenue line is on record: pre-revenue / no commercial revenue.
Who are Verismo Therapeutics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Adaptimmune, Cabaletta Bio, Iovance Biotherapeutics, Adicet Bio, Allogene Therapeutics, Precision BioSciences, Caribou Biosciences, Poseida Therapeutics and Lyell Immunopharma. Cellectis is listed as an emerging player.
Does Verismo Therapeutics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Verismo Therapeutics.
What industry is Verismo Therapeutics in?
Verismo Therapeutics's product category is Cell Therapy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAABAC, CAR-T & TCR-T Therapies, with a secondary code of HLAAABAA, Cell Therapy Developers (Autologous). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.