What Nested Therapeutics does

Nested Therapeutics is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based precision oncology company founded in 2021 to discover and develop therapeutics against previously undruggable cancer targets. The company's core technology is a proprietary structural and AI-based drug discovery platform that integrates genomics, computational biophysics, machine learning, and chemical biology to systematically identify mutations that create novel binding pockets — including those at protein complex interfaces or those driving conformational changes — across the approximately 10,000 recurrent cancer-associated mutations in the human genome, of which less than 1% currently have FDA-approved medicines.

The company operates two pipeline programs. The lead asset, NST-628, is a non-degrading, fully brain-penetrant pan-RAF/MEK molecular glue that targets multiple components of the RAS/MAPK pathway and has demonstrated superiority over single-agent and vertical combinations in preclinical RAS/MAPK-driven models. NST-628 entered a global two-part Phase 1 study in MAPK-driven solid tumors following FDA IND clearance in March 2024, with initial Phase 1 data presented at AACR 2026 showing a 38% response rate and 85% disease control rate in heavily pretreated NRAS and BRAF Class II/III melanoma patients. The second program is a mutation-selective p53 pathway allosteric molecule that binds a novel cryptic pocket on a frequently mutated transcriptional regulator, currently at lead compound stage.

Nested Therapeutics is pre-revenue and intends to monetize through drug development and commercialization, likely via licensing/royalties and partnerships with established pharmaceutical companies. The company is venture-backed, having raised $125 million in total financing anchored by Versant Ventures and Goldman Sachs Asset Management. The customer base consists of cancer patients with MAPK-driven solid tumors enrolled in clinical trials at global academic medical centers; the company employs 11–50 staff and is led by CEO Darrin Miles (formerly of Genentech and Agios), with a scientific co-founder bench including Kevan Shokat (UCSF/HHMI), Arvin Dar (MSKCC), and Klaus Hoeflich.

Name

Nested Therapeutics

Legal name

Nested Therapeutics Inc.

Website

https://nestedtx.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cambridge-based precision oncology company developing therapeutics against previously undruggable cancer targets using a proprietary structural and AI-based discovery platform. Lead program NST-628, a brain-penetrant pan-RAF/MEK molecular glue, is in Phase 1 trials for MAPK-driven solid tumors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Oncology Therapeutics

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

AI/ML-Enabled Biologic Discovery Platforms (computational design, in silico screening) (HLAAAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Target Identification & Validation Platforms (omics-driven, chemoproteomics, genetic validation) (HLAAAIAI), Protein Interaction & Structural Biology Platforms (cryo-EM, X-ray, NMR, biophysics) (HLAAAIAH)

Keywords

• Precision oncology therapeutics
• Cancer drug discovery
• Molecular glue drugs
• RAS MAPK inhibitors
• Structural biology platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Drug Development and Commercialization: Pre-revenue biopharmaceutical company developing precision oncology medicines. The company is advancing pipeline programs through clinical trials with plans for eventual commercialization of NST-628 and other pipeline candidates.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Nested Therapeutics is a clinical-stage precision oncology company that uses a proprietary structural and AI-based drug discovery platform combining genomics, computational biophysics, machine learning, and chemical biology to identify previously undruggable cancer driver mutations and novel binding pockets. It is advancing a pipeline led by NST-628, a non-degrading, fully brain-penetrant pan-RAF/MEK molecular glue currently in a global Phase 1 study in MAPK-driven solid tumors, alongside a mutation-selective p53 pathway program in discovery.

Product overview

Nested Therapeutics is a precision oncology company with two pipeline programs. The lead program is NST-628, a non-degrading and fully brain-penetrant pan-RAF/MEK molecular glue targeting the RAS/MAPK pathway, currently in Phase 1 clinical trials. The second program is a mutation-selective p53 pathway program with an allosteric molecule targeting a transcriptional regulator. The company employs a proprietary structural and AI-based platform leveraging genomics, computational biophysics, machine learning, and chemical biology to discover new driver mutations and binding pockets in cancer targets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NST-628 A non-degrading and fully brain-penetrant pan-RAF/MEK molecular glue that targets multiple critical components in the RAS/MAPK pathway. It is being evaluated in a global two-part Phase 1 study in patients with MAPK-driven solid tumors and is intended for patients with NRAS-mutant melanoma, BRAF Class II/III melanoma, KRAS-mutant ovarian and cervical cancers, high-grade astrocytoma, and other RAS/MAPK-driven cancers.
• P53 Pathway Program A mutation-selective program targeting the p53 pathway with an allosteric molecule targeting a transcriptional regulator frequently mutated in cancer. A lead compound with selective target binding to a novel cryptic pocket has been identified.

Quantifiable outcome

• 38% response rate and 85% disease control rate in heavily pretreated NRAS and BRAF Class II/III melanoma patients
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Tango Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotechnology company developing precision oncology therapies with a focus on synthetic lethality and target discovery. Comparable as a platform-based precision oncology company at similar development stage.
• Revolution Medicines: Clinical-stage precision oncology company developing a portfolio of RAS/MAPK-targeted therapies including pan-RAF and MEK inhibitors. Direct competitor to Nested in the RAS/MAPK pathway with substantially more capital and pipeline depth.
• PMV Pharmaceuticals: Precision oncology company developing small molecule activators of p53, directly relevant to Nested's second pipeline program targeting the p53 pathway. Highly comparable target and approach.
• Black Diamond Therapeutics: Precision oncology company leveraging a proprietary platform to discover and develop small molecule kinase inhibitors against both wild-type and mutant forms of cancer targets. Comparable platform-driven approach to nested cryptic-pocket discovery.
• Erasca: Clinical-stage precision oncology company building a pipeline of RAS/MAPK-targeted therapies. Direct competitor to Nested with multiple programs at various stages of development and similar MAPK-pathway focus.
• Mirati Therapeutics (acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb): Developed targeted oncology drugs including KRAZATI (adagrasib), a KRAS G12C inhibitor, and other RAS-pathway agents. Direct overlap with Nested's RAS/MAPK focus; acquired by BMS in 2024 for ~$4.8B.
• Scorpion Therapeutics: Precision oncology company developing mutation-selective therapies against high-value cancer targets using a similar AI-enabled discovery approach. Highly comparable in strategy and stage to Nested's platform and p53 program.

Broad incumbents

• Arvinas: Clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering targeted protein degradation using PROTAC and molecular glue platforms. Comparable in therapeutic modality (molecular glues) and in oncology focus, though broader in target scope.
• SpringWorks Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted oncology therapies with several approved and clinical-stage assets. Comparable as a precision oncology company with similar MAPK-pathway interest (MEK inhibitors).

Emerging players

• Foghorn Therapeutics: Clinical-stage precision oncology company using its proprietary gene regulation platform to discover and develop therapies targeting chromatin biology. Comparable as a platform-based precision oncology company targeting previously undruggable cancer biology.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nested Therapeutics