HiberCell
HiberCell is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class oncology therapeutics that target the Integrated Stress Response in cancer cells, with two lead candidates—HC-7366 and HC-5404—in Phase 1b trials for renal cell carcinoma and acute myeloid leukemia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What HiberCell does
HiberCell is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class oncology therapeutics that modulate the Integrated Stress Response (ISR) and Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) to address cancer relapse, metastasis, and treatment resistance. Founded in 2019 and originally based in New York before relocating to Roseville, Minnesota, the company was built on pioneering tumor dormancy research from Julio Aguirre-Ghiso's lab at Mount Sinai. Its lead assets are HC-7366, a first-in-class selective GCN2 kinase activator in Phase 1b trials for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (in combination with Merck's WELIREG/belzutifan) and acute myeloid leukemia (in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine), and HC-5404, a first-in-class PERK inhibitor that received FDA Fast Track Designation and was partnered in November 2025 with AVEO Oncology (an LG Chem company) for renal cell carcinoma development. HiberCell also acquired Genuity Science (2021) for AI/ML genomics and multi-omic analytics capabilities and Biothera (2020) for the Imprime PGG innate immune program, bringing headcount to 51–100 and cumulative funding to approximately $158 million in equity ($60.75M Series A, $67.4M Series B) plus a $30 million Hercules Capital debt facility.
The company's business model is licensing- and milestone-driven: HiberCell is pre-revenue, with future economics contingent on (i) upfront and milestone payments from strategic partners such as Merck and AVEO/LG Chem, (ii) potential royalties on commercialization, and (iii) eventual direct product revenue if any asset is retained and launched. Clinical operations are conducted through academic medical centers including Memorial Sloan Kettering, MD Anderson, and Sarah Cannon Research Institute. Marketing and stakeholder engagement occur primarily through peer-reviewed publications, presentations at AACR/SITC/ASCO/ASH, and corporate press releases, reflecting a scientific-credibility-driven go-to-market approach typical of clinical-stage biotechs.
HiberCell firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HiberCell
- Legal name
- HiberCell Inc.
- Website
- https://hibercell.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- HiberCell is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class oncology therapeutics that target the Integrated Stress Response in cancer cells, with two lead candidates—HC-7366 and HC-5404—in Phase 1b trials for renal cell carcinoma and acute myeloid leukemia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HiberCell industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Clinical-Stage Oncology Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- High-Throughput Screening & Assay Platforms (HTS/HCS, phenotypic screening) (HLAAAIAA)
Keywords
Where HiberCell is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
HiberCell 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
- Therapeutic Development & Commercialization: HiberCell is a clinical-stage biotech focused on developing novel cancer therapeutics. The company does not currently generate revenue. Future revenue would come from commercialization of its drug candidates (HC-7366, HC-5404) upon FDA approval, either directly or through licensing/partnership agreements with pharmaceutical companies.
- Partnership & Milestone Payments: Through partnerships like the AVEO Oncology agreement, HiberCell receives option fees and is eligible for milestone payments and royalties contingent upon successful development and commercialization of HC-5404.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
HiberCell product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HiberCell is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class small molecule therapeutics that target adaptive stress pathways — specifically the Integrated Stress Response (ISR) and the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) — to prevent cancer relapse and metastasis. Its lead candidates HC-7366 (a GCN2 activator) and HC-5404 (a PERK inhibitor) are in Phase 1 clinical trials for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and other solid tumors, with development advanced through partnerships with large pharmaceutical companies.
Product overview
HiberCell is a clinical-stage oncology company developing a differentiated pipeline of first-in-class therapeutics targeting adaptive stress pathways to address cancer relapse, metastasis, and treatment resistance. The company's core products include HC-7366 (a GCN2 activator targeting the Integrated Stress Response) and HC-5404 (a PERK inhibitor targeting the Unfolded Protein Response), both in Phase 1b clinical trials for renal cell carcinoma and AML. Additionally, the company has odetiglucan (Imprime PGG) in Phase 2 development for innate immune modulation. The company also acquired Genuity Science to integrate AI/ML capabilities into its drug discovery platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- HC-5404 (PERK Inhibitor) HC-5404 is a first-in-class, first-in-human, selective, orally bioavailable small molecule inhibitor of PERK (PKR-like Endoplasmic Reticulum Kinase), a key enzyme in the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR). It is being developed to block the adaptive survival mechanisms that cancer cells use in harsh tumor microenvironments, initially for renal cell carcinoma in combination with VEGFR-TKIs under an exclusive development and option agreement with AVEO Oncology.
- HC-7366 (GCN2 Activator) HC-7366 is a first-in-class, first-in-human, selective, orally bioavailable small molecule activator of General Control Nonderepressible 2 (GCN2) kinase, a metabolic stress sensor in the Integrated Stress Response (ISR) pathway. It is in Phase 1b clinical investigation for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), in combination with WELIREG (belzutifan) under a Merck clinical collaboration, and for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine.
- Odetiglucan (Imprime PGG) Odetiglucan, also known as Imprime PGG, is a therapeutic candidate that modulates the anti-tumor innate immune response. It is currently in Phase 2 clinical development, having been brought into HiberCell's pipeline through the Biothera acquisition.
Quantifiable outcome
- Phase 1 study of HC-5404 showed favorable safety profile with maximum tolerated dose not determined; one durable partial response (>2 years duration) and multiple patients with stable disease
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use HiberCell
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
HiberCell technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
HiberCell partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AVEO Oncology (LG Chem company)coreExclusive development and option agreement for HC-5404 (first-in-human PERK inhibitor) to be developed in combination with AVEO's FOTIVDA (tivozanib) for renal cell carcinoma. AVEO conducts initial clinical development and has option to obtain exclusive license for development, manufacturing, and commercialization worldwide. HiberCell eligible for milestone payments and royalties upon option exercise.
- Merck (MSD outside US and Canada)coreClinical collaboration to evaluate HC-7366 (GCN2 activator) in combination with WELIREG (belzutifan, HIF-2α inhibitor) in Phase 1b study for clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Merck provides belzutifan supply and clinical collaboration support. Study led by Dr. Robert Motzer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
- Genuity Science, Inc.coreAcquisition of Genuity Science provides HiberCell with genomics analytics platform, AI/ML capabilities, and approximately $100M in cash. Includes wholly owned subsidiaries Genuity Science (Iceland) ehf and Genuity Sciences (Ireland) Limited. Brings advanced multi-omic analytics and datasets in cancer, cardiometabolic, autoimmune, and neurological disorders.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterminorClinical trial site for Phase 1b study of HC-7366 with belzutifan; Dr. Robert Motzer serves as lead Principal Investigator.
- MD Anderson Cancer CenterminorClinical trial site for Phase 1b study of HC-7366 in AML; Dr. Abhishek Maiti serves as Principal Investigator.
- Sarah Cannon Research Institute at Tennessee OncologyminorFirst clinical trial site opened for Phase 1a/b trial of HC-7366 in advanced solid tumors in Nashville, Tennessee.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
HiberCell competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- IDEAYA Biosciences: Clinical-stage precision oncology biotech with multiple first-in-class small molecule programs in Phase 1/2 development, mirroring HiberCell's stage and modality.
- Kura Oncology: Clinical-stage oncology biotech developing targeted small molecules (e.g., menin inhibitors) for solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, with overlapping indication set including head and neck cancer.
- Foghorn Therapeutics: Clinical-stage oncology company targeting chromatin regulatory biology with first-in-class small molecules, analogous to HiberCell's first-in-class stress-pathway approach.
- Arcus Biosciences: Clinical-stage immuno-oncology biotech with multiple Phase 1/2 assets and large-pharma partnership experience (Gilead), comparable in scale and partnering strategy to HiberCell.
- Relay Therapeutics: Clinical-stage precision oncology biotech combining computation with structure-based drug design, overlapping HiberCell's emphasis on novel mechanism discovery and first-in-class positioning.
- Repare Therapeutics: Clinical-stage precision oncology biotech focused on synthetic lethality with partnered assets, comparable in clinical-stage maturity and oncology focus to HiberCell.
- Black Diamond Therapeutics: Clinical-stage precision oncology biotech developing small molecule therapies against novel oncogenic targets, with similar pipeline profile and indication breadth.
- Erasca: Clinical-stage precision oncology biotech with multiple small molecule programs targeting the RAS/MAPK pathway, sharing HiberCell's first-in-class small molecule oncology profile.
Emerging players
- Schrödinger, Inc. Computational drug discovery platform with a growing clinical-stage oncology pipeline; overlaps with HiberCell's AI/ML capability acquired from Genuity Science.
- Recursion Pharmaceuticals: AI-driven drug discovery company with clinical-stage oncology assets, providing a comparable model for technology-enabled biotech pipeline development.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HiberCell social profiles
Digital presenceHiberCell financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HiberCell leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
HiberCell subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
HiberCell funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors11 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HiberCell M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HiberCell
What does HiberCell do?
HiberCell is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class small molecule therapeutics that target adaptive stress pathways — specifically the Integrated Stress Response (ISR) and the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) — to prevent cancer relapse and metastasis. Its lead candidates HC-7366 (a GCN2 activator) and HC-5404 (a PERK inhibitor) are in Phase 1 clinical trials for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and other solid tumors, with development advanced through partnerships with large pharmaceutical companies.
Is HiberCell a public or private company?
HiberCell is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was HiberCell founded?
HiberCell was founded in 2019. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is HiberCell based?
HiberCell is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does HiberCell make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Therapeutic Development & Commercialization is the primary driver. The others are partnership & Milestone Payments.
Who are HiberCell's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are IDEAYA Biosciences, Kura Oncology, Foghorn Therapeutics, Arcus Biosciences, Relay Therapeutics, Repare Therapeutics, Black Diamond Therapeutics and Erasca. Emerging players are Schrödinger, Inc. and Recursion Pharmaceuticals.
Does HiberCell have an API?
No public API is recorded for HiberCell.
What industry is HiberCell in?
HiberCell's product category is Clinical-Stage Oncology Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAIAA, High-Throughput Screening & Assay Platforms (HTS/HCS, phenotypic screening). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.