Alessa Therapeutics
Alessa Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing proprietary grain-of-rice-sized drug-eluting implants that deliver FDA-approved anti-androgens directly to the prostate over two or more years, targeting men with low to intermediate risk localized prostate cancer.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Alessa Therapeutics does
Alessa Therapeutics is a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2018 and headquartered in San Carlos, California, that is developing a proprietary drug-delivery platform for the localized treatment of solid organ disease, with an initial focus on early-stage prostate cancer. The company's technology centers on drug-eluting implants approximately the size of a grain of rice, which combine FDA-approved small-molecule anti-androgens (enzalutamide, bicalutamide) with a biocompatible polymer matrix to achieve sustained local release of therapy directly into prostate tissue for two or more years, while minimizing systemic drug exposure. Its pipeline includes Enolen (enzalutamide implant, currently in a Phase 1/1b study at the U.S. National Cancer Institute), Biolen (bicalutamide implant, Phase 1 completed and being developed for a BPH indication), Pamolen (PARP inhibitor combinations, with IND filing expected in 2H 2026), and supporting combination and pre-prostatectomy programs.
Alessa's go-to-market is anchored in clinical-stage execution: all current trials are conducted through collaborations with the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, and earlier Biolen studies were run in Australia and New Zealand. The FDA granted Fast Track designation for Enolen in January 2026, and preliminary Phase 1 data reported at EAU2026 showed 84% of lesions exhibiting tumor volume reduction over 35 days with no reported impact on testosterone or sexual function. Once approved, Alessa expects its products to be prescribed by urologists and oncologists and administered in clinical settings under a traditional pharmaceutical distribution model; pricing has not yet been established. The company is venture-backed, having closed a $15 million seed round in December 2024 led by Mission BioCapital with participation from Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, alongside founding investor Cure Ventures and academic origins at UCSF under founder and Chief Scientific Advisor Dr. Pamela Munster.
Alessa Therapeutics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Alessa Therapeutics
- Legal name
- Alessa Therapeutics, Inc.
- Website
- https://alessatherapeutics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Alessa Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing proprietary grain-of-rice-sized drug-eluting implants that deliver FDA-approved anti-androgens directly to the prostate over two or more years, targeting men with low to intermediate risk localized prostate cancer.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Alessa Therapeutics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Oncology Pharmaceuticals
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nephrology & Urology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAH)
Keywords
Where Alessa Therapeutics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Alessa Therapeutics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Once approved, the company will generate revenue through the sale of proprietary drug-eluting implants (Enolen, Biolen, Pamolen) for localized prostate cancer treatment. The products deliver FDA-approved compounds (enzalutamide, bicalutamide) through a proprietary delivery platform, eliminating systemic side effects associated with current treatments.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Alessa Therapeutics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Alessa Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing proprietary drug-eluting implants (approximately the size of a grain of rice) that combine FDA-approved anti-androgen and other oncology compounds with a biocompatible polymer matrix to deliver sustained, localized therapy directly to diseased prostate tissue for 2+ years. Its lead product Enolen (enzalutamide implant) is in Phase 1 trials at the National Cancer Institute and holds FDA Fast Track designation; additional pipeline assets include Biolen (bicalutamide implant) and Pamolen (PARP inhibitor combinations).
Product overview
Alessa Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a proprietary drug-delivery platform for sustained and localized release of clinically proven therapies to treat early-stage prostate cancer. The company's portfolio includes three lead programs: Enolen (enzalutamide implant, Phase 1), Biolen (bicalutamide implant, Phase 1 completed), and Pamolen (PARP inhibitor combinations, pre-clinical). All products are drug-eluting implants approximately the size of a grain of rice that provide 2+ years of continuous drug elution directly to diseased prostate tissue. The platform eliminates systemic side effects common with current prostate cancer treatments by delivering anti-androgen therapies directly to the target tissue.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Enolen: Drug-eluting implant containing enzalutamide for treatment of low to intermediate risk localized prostate cancer. Lead product candidate currently in Phase 1 clinical trial.
- Biolen
- Pamolen
Products and services
- Enolen (Enzalutamide Implant) Drug-eluting implant containing enzalutamide for localized sustained delivery to prostate tissue in men with low to intermediate risk localized prostate cancer; in Phase 1 clinical trial at the National Cancer Institute with FDA Fast Track designation.
- Biolen (Bicalutamide Implant) Bicalutamide-eluting implant for localized prostate cancer treatment providing sustained release of anti-androgen directly to prostate tissue; completed Phase 1 clinical study (NCT04284761) and is being developed for BPH.
- Pamolen (PARP Inhibitor Combinations Implant) Implant using PARP inhibitor combinations for intermediate to high-risk localized prostate cancer; IND filing expected 2H 2026.
- EP-001 (Pre-prostatectomy Proof-of-Concept Program) Pre-prostatectomy proof-of-concept clinical program using localized drug delivery prior to surgical intervention.
- CP-001 / CP-002 (Biolen Combination Programs with Radiation Therapy) Biolen combination clinical programs with radiation therapy (CP-002) for localized prostate cancer treatment in conjunction with ADT replacement.
Quantifiable outcome
- 84-86% lesion reduction in tumor volume over 35-36 days
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Alessa Therapeutics
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Alessa Therapeutics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Alessa Therapeutics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)coreClinical collaboration with the Radiation Oncology Branch of the NCI for Biolen+RT study evaluating feasibility of replacing systemic ADT with targeted local delivery of anti-androgen agent in patients indicated for ADT in conjunction with radiation therapy. NCI Principal Investigators include Dr. Deborah Citrin, Dr. Peter Choyke, Dr. Baris Turkbey, Dr. Brad Wood, and Dr. Peter Pinto. Enolen study also being conducted at NCI.
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)coreResearch collaboration agreement with an affiliate of Janssen Research & Development, LLC. The agreement was facilitated by Johnson & Johnson Innovation. The collaboration focuses on Alessa's platform technology of sustained local delivery for early interception and treatment of cancer and other solid organ diseases.
- University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)coreTechnology developed at UCSF by Dr. Pamela Munster and her team at the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology. Dr. Munster serves as Founder, Director & Chief Scientific Advisor of Alessa. The company was founded based on technology developed at UCSF.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Alessa Therapeutics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Pfizer: Co-promotes Xtandi with Astellas in major markets and is a leading prostate cancer therapeutics company; its commercial reach sets the bar Alessa must match for any eventual launch.
- Bayer: Markets Nubeqa (darolutamide), an anti-androgen for non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, competing in the same drug class Alessa's implants are designed to displace or complement.
- Johnson & Johnson: Markets Erleada (apalutamide), a direct anti-androgen competitor to enzalutamide, and is both Alessa's corporate VC investor (JJDC) and R&D partner (Janssen), making it both competitor and strategic backer.
Others
- Veru Inc. Late-stage urology-focused biopharmaceutical company with prostate cancer drug development programs, providing a comparable small-cap commercial-stage urology specialty pharma reference point.
Direct peers
- Astellas Pharma: Markets Xtandi (enzalutamide) — the same active ingredient Alessa uses in Enolen — making Astellas Alessa's most direct systemic-therapy competitor in localized prostate cancer.
- Profound Medical: Markets Tulsa-Pro, an MRI-guided transurethral ultrasound ablation system for localized prostate cancer. Another focal-therapy competitor targeting the same treatment-decision gap Alessa addresses.
- EDAP TMS: Markets Focal One, an HIFU-based focal therapy device for localized prostate cancer. Competes for the same patient population — men with low-to-intermediate risk disease seeking alternatives to radical treatment.
- Tolmar Pharmaceuticals: Develops Eligard, a subcutaneous leuprolide acetate depot injection for advanced prostate cancer. Closest peer to Alessa in localized, sustained-release drug delivery for prostate cancer.
Emerging players
- Nanobiotix: Develops NBTXR3, a localized radioenhancer injected directly into tumors to amplify radiotherapy effect. Compares to Alessa as a locally-administered oncology therapy using a novel delivery mechanism.
- Nanospectra Biosciences: Develops AuroLase, a gold-nanoshell localized laser ablation therapy for focal prostate cancer treatment. Comparable emerging modality competing for focal-therapy share in localized prostate cancer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Alessa Therapeutics social profiles
Digital presenceAlessa Therapeutics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Alessa Therapeutics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Alessa Therapeutics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Alessa 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 Alessa Therapeutics
What does Alessa Therapeutics do?
Alessa Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing proprietary drug-eluting implants (approximately the size of a grain of rice) that combine FDA-approved anti-androgen and other oncology compounds with a biocompatible polymer matrix to deliver sustained, localized therapy directly to diseased prostate tissue for 2+ years. Its lead product Enolen (enzalutamide implant) is in Phase 1 trials at the National Cancer Institute and holds FDA Fast Track designation; additional pipeline assets include Biolen (bicalutamide implant) and Pamolen (PARP inhibitor combinations).
Is Alessa Therapeutics a public or private company?
Alessa Therapeutics is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Alessa Therapeutics founded?
Alessa Therapeutics was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Alessa Therapeutics based?
Alessa Therapeutics is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Alessa Therapeutics make money?
One revenue line is on record: pharmaceutical Product Sales.
Who are Alessa Therapeutics's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Pfizer, Bayer and Johnson & Johnson. Veru Inc. is listed as an others. Direct peers are Astellas Pharma, Profound Medical, EDAP TMS and Tolmar Pharmaceuticals. Emerging players are Nanobiotix and Nanospectra Biosciences.
Does Alessa Therapeutics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Alessa Therapeutics.
What industry is Alessa Therapeutics in?
Alessa Therapeutics's product category is Oncology Pharmaceuticals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIACAH, Nephrology & Urology Specialty Pharmaceuticals. Its NAICS code is 325412 and its SIC code is 2834.