Ikena Oncology
Ikena Oncology was a clinical-stage oncology company targeting Hippo and RAS pathways (IK-930, IK-595). Following its July 2025 reverse merger with Inmagene Biopharmaceuticals, the combined entity — ImageneBio (Nasdaq: IMA) — develops IMG-007, an anti-OX40 monoclonal antibody for atopic dermatitis and other immunological diseases.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Ikena Oncology does
Ikena Oncology was a Boston-based, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2016 that developed differentiated targeted therapies intended to disrupt cancer growth and resistance, with initial focus on the Hippo and RAS signaling pathways. Its pipeline comprised clinical-stage candidates IK-930 and IK-595, both funded by a $40 million underwritten equity offering priced in May 2023. The company was venture-backed, having previously raised approximately $49 million in 2017 and a $120 million round in January 2021 led by Omega Funds with participation from Atlas Venture, OrbiMed, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Fidelity and other institutional investors; it had publicly traded on Nasdaq under ticker IKNA. In August 2023, Ikena acquired Pionyr Immunotherapeutics to broaden its immuno-oncology footprint.
In July 2025, Ikena Oncology entered into a reverse merger with Inmagene Biopharmaceuticals; the combined company rebranded as ImageneBio, Inc. and began trading on Nasdaq under ticker IMA on July 28, 2025. A $75 million concurrent private placement was funded by Deep Track Capital, Foresite Capital, RTW Investments, and existing Ikena investors. Post-merger, ImageneBio's lead program became IMG-007, a next-generation, extended half-life anti-OX40 monoclonal antibody that inhibits OX40 receptor signaling without depleting T cells, in clinical development initially for atopic dermatitis with exploration across additional immunological and inflammatory indications. The combined entity ended 2025 with $135.3 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, and announced a further $30 million private placement in April 2026. Ikena's original oncology programs (IK-930, IK-595) and Pionyr-derived assets are no longer the lead narrative for the public entity.
The combined company's business model is that of a clinical-stage biotechnology firm: it does not yet market any approved product and consequently generates no product revenue. Value creation depends on advancing IMG-007 (and any retained oncology assets) through clinical trials toward potential regulatory approval, after which commercialization would typically occur via traditional pharmaceutical distribution channels — either through a specialty sales force, partnerships, or out-licensing. Customers in the commercial sense do not yet exist; the end users are ultimately patients with atopic dermatitis and other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Pricing models are undisclosed because no product has reached market.
Ikena Oncology firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ikena Oncology
- Legal name
- ImageneBio, Inc.
- Website
- https://ikenaoncology.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Ikena Oncology was a clinical-stage oncology company targeting Hippo and RAS pathways (IK-930, IK-595). Following its July 2025 reverse merger with Inmagene Biopharmaceuticals, the combined entity — ImageneBio (Nasdaq: IMA) — develops IMG-007, an anti-OX40 monoclonal antibody for atopic dermatitis and other immunological diseases.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ikena Oncology industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Clinical-stage biopharmaceuticals (targeted oncology and immunology therapeutics)
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Immunology & Autoimmune Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Immunology & Inflammation Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAD), Oncology & Hematology Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAC)
Keywords
Where Ikena Oncology is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Ikena Oncology business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Ikena Oncology product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ikena Oncology was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that developed targeted oncology therapies (IK-930 and IK-595) focused on Hippo and RAS signaling pathways. Following the July 2025 reverse merger with Inmagene Biopharmaceuticals, the combined entity (ImageneBio) is advancing IMG-007, a next-generation extended half-life investigational anti-OX40 monoclonal antibody designed to inhibit OX40 receptor signaling without depleting T cells, with lead indication in atopic dermatitis and potential in additional immunological and inflammatory diseases.
Product overview
Ikena Oncology was a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing targeted oncology programs. The company completed a reverse merger with Inmagene Biopharmaceuticals in July 2025, with the combined entity rebranded as ImageneBio (ticker: IMA), trading on Nasdaq. The original Ikena Oncology pipeline included IK-930 and IK-595 (targeted oncology programs). Post-merger, ImageneBio's lead product is IMG-007, an extended half-life anti-OX40 monoclonal antibody in clinical development for atopic dermatitis and other immunological/inflammatory diseases.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- IK-930 IK-930 is a clinical-stage targeted oncology program at Ikena Oncology directed at the Hippo signaling pathway to address cancer growth and resistance. The program was advanced using proceeds from the May 2023 $40 million underwritten offering of common stock alongside IK-595.
- IK-595 IK-595 is a clinical-stage targeted oncology program at Ikena Oncology directed at the RAS signaling pathway to address cancer growth and resistance. The program was advanced using proceeds from the May 2023 $40 million underwritten offering of common stock alongside IK-930.
- IMG-007 IMG-007 is a next-generation, extended half-life investigational anti-OX40 monoclonal antibody in clinical development for atopic dermatitis and other immunological/inflammatory diseases. The molecule targets and inhibits OX40 receptor signaling without depleting T cells, designed for potential enhanced efficacy, safety, and patient convenience. It is the lead program of ImageneBio, the entity formed by Ikena Oncology's reverse merger with Inmagene Biopharmaceuticals.
Companies that use Ikena Oncology
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Ikena Oncology technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Ikena Oncology partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Ikena Oncology competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- GlaxoSmithKline: GSK has active clinical programs targeting OX40/OX40L and broader type-2 immunology, making it both a competitor and a potential partner/acquirer for ImageneBio's IMG-007 asset.
- Sanofi: Sanofi, together with Regeneron, commercializes dupilumab (Dupixent), the dominant IL-4Rα antibody for atopic dermatitis and other type-2 inflammatory diseases, and is pursuing next-generation immunology assets that compete for the same physician and patient population as IMG-007.
- AbbVie: AbbVie markets rinvoq (upadacitinib, JAK1) and Skyrizi (risankizumab, IL-23) across immunology indications including atopic dermatitis, positioning it as a broad incumbent that defines the standard-of-care bar IMG-007 must clear or differentiate against.
- Eli Lilly: Eli Lilly is developing lebrikizumab (IL-13) and other immunology biologics for atopic dermatitis and related indications, and has signaled a major commitment to inflammatory disease R&D that overlaps with IMG-007's positioning.
- Bristol-Myers Squibb: BMS is an existing Ikena investor (Series B participant) and operates a large immunology and immuno-oncology franchise, positioning it as a strategic peer for both the OX40 program and the original Hippo/RAS oncology programs.
- Roche: Roche/Genentech has a broad immunology pipeline and is exploring OX40-pathway therapeutics, making it a relevant incumbent peer for IMG-007's indication set and a likely benchmark for clinical trial design and endpoints.
Direct peers
- Kyowa Kirin: Kyowa Kirin is developing anti-OX40 monoclonal antibody programs in immunology, providing a direct mechanistic peer for IMG-007 in the OX40 signaling pathway and competitive readouts.
- Amgen: Amgen is developing rocatinlimab, an anti-OX40 monoclonal antibody in late-stage clinical trials for atopic dermatitis and other immunology indications, making it the most direct mechanistic competitor to ImageneBio's IMG-007.
Emerging players
- Arcutis Biotherapeutics: Arcutis is a clinical and commercial-stage dermatology-focused biotech with topical and systemic therapies for atopic dermatitis and other inflammatory skin diseases, making it a comparable specialty immunology peer of similar size and focus.
- AnaptysBio: AnaptysBio is a clinical-stage immunology biotech developing antibody therapeutics, including immuno-inflammation programs that compete with IMG-007 for similar inflammatory disease indications and partnership attention from larger pharma.
Market position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Ikena Oncology social profiles
Digital presenceIkena Oncology financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ikena Oncology leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Ikena Oncology funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors13 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ikena Oncology M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ikena Oncology
What does Ikena Oncology do?
Ikena Oncology was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that developed targeted oncology therapies (IK-930 and IK-595) focused on Hippo and RAS signaling pathways. Following the July 2025 reverse merger with Inmagene Biopharmaceuticals, the combined entity (ImageneBio) is advancing IMG-007, a next-generation extended half-life investigational anti-OX40 monoclonal antibody designed to inhibit OX40 receptor signaling without depleting T cells, with lead indication in atopic dermatitis and potential in additional immunological and inflammatory diseases.
Is Ikena Oncology a public or private company?
Ikena Oncology is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently acquired.
When was Ikena Oncology founded?
Ikena Oncology was founded in 2016. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Ikena Oncology based?
Ikena Oncology is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Ikena Oncology's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi, AbbVie, Eli Lilly, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Roche. Direct peers are Kyowa Kirin and Amgen. Emerging players are Arcutis Biotherapeutics and AnaptysBio.
Does Ikena Oncology have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ikena Oncology.
What industry is Ikena Oncology in?
Ikena Oncology's product category is Clinical-stage biopharmaceuticals (targeted oncology and immunology therapeutics). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIACAB, Immunology & Autoimmune Specialty Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of HLAIAAAD, Immunology & Inflammation Pharmaceuticals. Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.