SQZ Biotech
SQZ Biotechnologies was a publicly traded (NYSE:SQZ) clinical-stage biotech that developed the Cell Squeeze® microfluidic cell engineering platform for cell therapies in Parkinson's, MS, and Type 1 diabetes. It dissolved on March 4, 2024 after selling its assets to STEMCELL Technologies.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersWatertown, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What SQZ Biotech does
SQZ Biotechnologies Company was a clinical-stage biotechnology company that developed a proprietary cell engineering platform called Cell Squeeze®, which uses microfluidic mechanical compression to deliver diverse materials (proteins, nucleic acids, other cargo) into patient cells without compromising viability. The platform was positioned to reprogram immune cells into specialized cell types — including dopamine-producing neurons — for potential application in Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Type 1 diabetes, and other indications. The company was headquartered in Watertown (with a listed Wayland, MA address), was publicly traded on the NYSE under the ticker SQZ, and employed 51-100 people prior to dissolution.
The business model centered on developing internal therapeutic candidates and partnering with academic and government funders such as the NIH (which awarded a $2 million SBIR Phase II grant in 2022 for Parkinson's research). SQZ also pursued biopharma collaborations and had raised over $160 million in cumulative equity and grant financing across multiple rounds from investors including Polaris Partners, GV, Temasek, Illumina Ventures, and JDRF T1D Fund.
On March 4, 2024, SQZ sold substantially all of its assets — including the Cell Squeeze® technology and associated intellectual property — to STEMCELL Technologies Canada Acquisitions, Inc. and filed a Certificate of Dissolution with the Delaware Secretary of State. STEMCELL subsequently launched the CellPore™ Transfection System as the commercial successor to the Cell Squeeze® platform, distributing it through its life-science research tools channels.
SQZ Biotech firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SQZ Biotech
- Legal name
- SQZ Biotechnologies Company
- Website
- https://sqzbiotech.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- SQZ Biotechnologies was a publicly traded (NYSE:SQZ) clinical-stage biotech that developed the Cell Squeeze® microfluidic cell engineering platform for cell therapies in Parkinson's, MS, and Type 1 diabetes. It dissolved on March 4, 2024 after selling its assets to STEMCELL Technologies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SQZ Biotech industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biotechnology / Cell Therapy
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cell Therapy Developers (Autologous) (HLAAABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cell Therapy Manufacturing Platforms & Automation (closed systems, bioreactors, fill-finish) (HLAAABAG), Cell Processing & Ancillary Materials (media, cytokines, beads, vectors, disposables) (HLAAABAH)
Keywords
Where SQZ Biotech is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Watertown
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
SQZ Biotech business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
SQZ Biotech product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SQZ Biotechnologies developed and commercialized the Cell Squeeze® technology, a microfluidic cell engineering platform that mechanically delivers materials into patient cells without compromising viability. The platform was used to engineer immune cells into specialized cell types, including dopamine-producing neurons, for cell therapy programs targeting Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Type 1 diabetes. All assets, including intellectual property and the Cell Squeeze® technology, were sold to STEMCELL Technologies Canada Acquisitions, Inc. on March 4, 2024.
Product overview
SQZ Biotechnologies was a biotechnology company offering the Cell Squeeze® technology, a cell engineering platform that enabled the delivery of materials into cells. The company operated as a single-product-focused organization with its core technology as the primary offering. On March 4, 2024, SQZ Biotechnologies sold substantially all of its assets, including its intellectual property and Cell Squeeze® technology, to STEMCELL Technologies Canada Acquisitions, Inc., and subsequently filed for dissolution. STEMCELL Technologies now offers the CellPore™ Transfection System, described as a successor to the Cell Squeeze technology.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cell Squeeze® Technology A proprietary cell engineering platform that uses microfluidic squeezing to deliver materials into cells without compromising viability, enabling reprogramming of immune cells into specialized cell types for therapeutic use. It was sold to STEMCELL Technologies Canada Acquisitions, Inc. on March 4, 2024 and is now commercialized as the CellPore™ Transfection System by STEMCELL.
Companies that use SQZ Biotech
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
SQZ Biotech technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
SQZ Biotech partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- STEMCELL Technologies Canada Acquisitions, Inc.coreSQZ Biotechnologies sold substantially all of its assets including intellectual property and the Cell Squeeze technology to STEMCELL Technologies Canada Acquisitions, Inc. on March 4, 2024. The company also filed a Certificate of Dissolution with the Secretary of State of Delaware on the same date. STEMCELL Technologies now offers the CellPore Transfection System, which is based on the acquired Cell Squeeze technology.
Recent moves7 records
SQZ Biotech competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
SQZ Biotech social profiles
Digital presenceSQZ Biotech financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SQZ Biotech leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
SQZ Biotech funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds13 records
Investors22 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SQZ Biotech 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 SQZ Biotech
What does SQZ Biotech do?
SQZ Biotechnologies developed and commercialized the Cell Squeeze® technology, a microfluidic cell engineering platform that mechanically delivers materials into patient cells without compromising viability. The platform was used to engineer immune cells into specialized cell types, including dopamine-producing neurons, for cell therapy programs targeting Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Type 1 diabetes. All assets, including intellectual property and the Cell Squeeze® technology, were sold to STEMCELL Technologies Canada Acquisitions, Inc. on March 4, 2024.
Is SQZ Biotech a public or private company?
SQZ Biotech is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently closed.
When was SQZ Biotech founded?
SQZ Biotech was founded in 2013. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is SQZ Biotech based?
SQZ Biotech is headquartered in Watertown, United States, in the North America region.
Does SQZ Biotech have an API?
No public API is recorded for SQZ Biotech.
What industry is SQZ Biotech in?
SQZ Biotech's product category is Biotechnology / Cell Therapy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAABAA, Cell Therapy Developers (Autologous), with a secondary code of HLAAABAG, Cell Therapy Manufacturing Platforms & Automation (closed systems, bioreactors, fill-finish). Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.