Cour Pharmaceuticals Development
COUR Pharmaceuticals Development is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing proprietary antigen-specific immune tolerance nanoparticle therapies that target the root cause of autoimmune diseases, with four pipeline candidates in PBC, Type 1 Diabetes, Myasthenia Gravis, and Celiac Disease.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersSkokie, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cour Pharmaceuticals Development does
COUR Pharmaceuticals Development is a clinical-stage biotechnology company headquartered in Skokie, Illinois that develops antigen-specific immune tolerance therapies using a proprietary immune-modifying nanoparticle platform. The technology encapsulates disease-relevant autoantigens into nanoparticles that are delivered to the liver to leverage the body's endogenous pathway for reinforcing self-tolerance, thereby reprogramming pathogenic T and B cell responses while preserving normal immune function. The company's stated thesis is to address the underlying autoimmune cause of disease rather than suppress symptoms with broad immunosuppression.
The pipeline comprises four product candidates spanning multiple autoimmune indications. CNP-104 targets Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) and has both Orphan Drug and Fast Track FDA designations, with positive one-year Phase 2a data reported in March 2026. CNP-103 targets Type 1 Diabetes, received Fast Track Designation in March 2025, and entered first-in-human Phase 1 testing in August 2025. CNP-106 targets Myasthenia Gravis and is in a Phase 1b/2a trial across approximately 30 centers in the United States and Canada, with Orphan Drug Designation. CNP-101/TAK-101 targets Celiac Disease and is partnered with Takeda, which is conducting a Phase 2b study after licensing the asset in 2019; this was the first clinical trial to demonstrate induction of antigen-specific immune tolerance in humans.
The company is pre-revenue with a documented business model centered on future pharmaceutical product sales supplemented by licensing and royalty arrangements, evidenced by the Takeda partnership structure for CNP-101. To date COUR has raised over $185 million across multiple rounds led by Alpha Wave Ventures, Lumira Ventures, and Roche Venture Fund, with corporate venture participation from Roche, Sanofi, Pfizer Ventures, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Headcount is reported at 51–100 employees, and the company reaches patient populations through its corporate website, dedicated trial recruitment sites, and partnerships with patient advocacy organizations including Breakthrough T1D, the American Liver Foundation, the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, and the Celiac Disease Foundation.
Cour Pharmaceuticals Development firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cour Pharmaceuticals Development
- Legal name
- COUR Pharmaceuticals
- Website
- https://courpharma.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- COUR Pharmaceuticals Development is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing proprietary antigen-specific immune tolerance nanoparticle therapies that target the root cause of autoimmune diseases, with four pipeline candidates in PBC, Type 1 Diabetes, Myasthenia Gravis, and Celiac Disease.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cour Pharmaceuticals Development industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Autoimmune Disease Biopharmaceuticals
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Immunology & Autoimmune Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Therapeutic Vaccines (cancer, chronic infection immunotherapy) (HLAAAEAB)
Keywords
Where Cour Pharmaceuticals Development is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Skokie
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cour Pharmaceuticals Development business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Pharmaceutical product sales: Pre-revenue clinical-stage biotechnology company. Revenue will be generated through sales of FDA-approved therapies once clinical development is completed. The company is also pursuing partnership models (e.g., Takeda partnership for CNP-101) for co-development and commercialization.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Cour Pharmaceuticals Development product offering
Product offeringCore offering
COUR Pharma is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing proprietary antigen-specific immune tolerance therapies encapsulated in nanoparticles. Its pipeline includes CNP-104 for Primary Biliary Cholangitis, CNP-103 for Type 1 Diabetes, CNP-106 for Myasthenia Gravis, and CNP-101/TAK-101 (partnered with Takeda) for Celiac Disease. The platform reprograms the immune system to halt autoimmune destruction while preserving normal immune function.
Product overview
COUR Pharma is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing targeted immune tolerance therapies through its proprietary nanoparticle platform technology. The company's portfolio consists of four main product candidates: CNP-104 (Phase 2 for Primary Biliary Cholangitis), CNP-103 (Phase 1/2 for Type 1 Diabetes), CNP-106 (Phase 1b/2a for Myasthenia Gravis), and CNP-101/TAK-101 (Phase 2b for Celiac Disease, partnered with Takeda). All products use antigen-specific immune tolerance approaches to address the root cause of autoimmune diseases rather than simply managing symptoms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CNP-104 Antigen-specific immune tolerance therapy for Primary Biliary Cholangitis that encapsulates the autoantigen PDC-E2 to reprogram the immune system and halt bile duct destruction. Granted FDA Orphan Drug Designation (December 2024) and Fast Track Designation (January 2022).
- CNP-103 Investigational antigen-specific immune tolerance therapy for Type 1 Diabetes that encapsulates four recombinant proteins covering more than 95% of antigens driving T1D to retrain the immune system and prevent beta-cell destruction. Granted FDA Fast Track Designation in March 2025.
- CNP-106 Disease-modifying antigen-specific immune tolerance therapy for Myasthenia Gravis that encapsulates AChR-associated autoantigens to reprogram the immune system and regulate AChR antibody-producing B cells. Granted FDA Orphan Drug Designation.
- CNP-101/TAK-101 First-in-class antigen-specific immune tolerance therapy for Celiac Disease designed to reprogram the immune system to recognize gluten as harmless. Licensed to Takeda in 2019 and currently in Phase 2b study. First clinical trial to demonstrate induction of antigen-specific immune tolerance in humans.
Quantifiable outcome
- Improved liver stiffness measurements and achievement of composite biochemical response criteria in Phase 2a PBC study
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Cour Pharmaceuticals Development
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Cour Pharmaceuticals Development technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Cour Pharmaceuticals Development partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- TakedacoreTakeda acquired the license for CNP-101 (TAK-101) in 2019 for celiac disease development. Takeda is enrolling patients in a Phase 2b study. Takeda is also mentioned as a partner for autoimmune disease in the pipeline section.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cour Pharmaceuticals Development competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Anokion: Clinical-stage biotech developing antigen-specific immune tolerance therapies for autoimmune diseases using a proprietary platform. Most directly comparable peer as both companies share the antigen-specific tolerance approach for celiac and other autoimmune indications.
- Parvus Therapeutics: Developer of nanoparticle-based immune tolerance therapies (Navacim platform) that reprogram immune cells to treat autoimmune disease. Closely comparable technology modality to COUR's PLG-based nanoparticles.
- Topas Therapeutics: Clinical-stage company developing nanoparticle-based tolerance induction therapies for autoimmune diseases, including celiac and multiple sclerosis. Closely comparable in platform modality and target indications.
- Selecta Biosciences: Pioneer in tolerogenic nanoparticle immunotherapies (ImmTOR platform) designed to induce antigen-specific immune tolerance. Closely aligned in modality though historically focused on enzyme replacement and gene therapy contexts.
- Provention Bio (a Sanofi company): Acquired by Sanofi in 2023, Provention developed teplizumab (Tzield) — the first FDA-approved disease-modifying therapy for T1D. Directly comparable as a T1D immunotherapy competitor with regulatory approval.
Broad incumbents
- Takeda Pharmaceutical: Global pharmaceutical company that licensed COUR's CNP-101 (TAK-101) for celiac disease in 2019 and is currently running a Phase 2b study. Functions as both a strategic partner and a broader autoimmune competitor with deep GI pipeline resources.
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals: Leading competitor in Type 1 Diabetes with VX-880/zimislecel islet cell therapy program in clinical development. Represents the most credible alternative modality to COUR's CNP-103 in the T1D indication.
- Roche: Swiss pharmaceutical major that is both a COUR investor (via Roche Venture Fund co-leading the Series B) and a broad autoimmune competitor with extensive biologics portfolios across neurology, gastroenterology, and immunology.
- Pfizer: Global pharma investor in COUR's Series B via Pfizer Ventures. Operates broadly in autoimmune and rare disease, with portfolio companies and internal programs competing for autoimmune indications COUR targets.
- Sanofi: Global pharma and new Series B investor in COUR. Operates a broad immunology and rare disease portfolio, including the recently acquired Provention Bio teplizumab for T1D — making it both a strategic capital provider and a T1D competitive force.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cour Pharmaceuticals Development social profiles
Digital presenceCour Pharmaceuticals Development financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cour Pharmaceuticals Development leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Cour Pharmaceuticals Development funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors11 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cour Pharmaceuticals Development 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 Cour Pharmaceuticals Development
What does Cour Pharmaceuticals Development do?
COUR Pharma is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing proprietary antigen-specific immune tolerance therapies encapsulated in nanoparticles. Its pipeline includes CNP-104 for Primary Biliary Cholangitis, CNP-103 for Type 1 Diabetes, CNP-106 for Myasthenia Gravis, and CNP-101/TAK-101 (partnered with Takeda) for Celiac Disease. The platform reprograms the immune system to halt autoimmune destruction while preserving normal immune function.
Is Cour Pharmaceuticals Development a public or private company?
Cour Pharmaceuticals Development is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Cour Pharmaceuticals Development founded?
Cour Pharmaceuticals Development was founded in 2015. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Cour Pharmaceuticals Development based?
Cour Pharmaceuticals Development is headquartered in Skokie, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cour Pharmaceuticals Development make money?
One revenue line is on record: pharmaceutical product sales.
Who are Cour Pharmaceuticals Development's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Anokion, Parvus Therapeutics, Topas Therapeutics, Selecta Biosciences and Provention Bio (a Sanofi company). Broad incumbents are Takeda Pharmaceutical, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Roche, Pfizer and Sanofi.
Does Cour Pharmaceuticals Development have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cour Pharmaceuticals Development.
What industry is Cour Pharmaceuticals Development in?
Cour Pharmaceuticals Development's product category is Autoimmune Disease Biopharmaceuticals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIACAB, Immunology & Autoimmune Specialty Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of HLAAAEAB, Therapeutic Vaccines (cancer, chronic infection immunotherapy). Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2834.