CDR-Life AG
CDR-Life AG is a clinical-stage Swiss biotech developing antibody-based T cell engagers via its M-gager® platform to treat solid tumors and autoimmune diseases, partnering with Boehringer Ingelheim for global development of its pipeline.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSchlieren, Switzerland
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What CDR-Life AG does
CDR-Life AG is a privately held, clinical-stage Swiss biotechnology company founded in 2017 and headquartered in Horgen (Canton Zurich) that develops antibody-based T cell engagers (TCEs) for cancer and autoimmune diseases using its proprietary M-gager® platform. The platform combines a phage display library of billions of antibody fragments with a Fab-(scFv)2 molecular format, enabling targeting of both surface antigens and, distinctively, intracellular tumor antigens presented on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) — a target class inaccessible to conventional antibodies. The pipeline comprises six development candidates: CDR404 (bivalent/bispecific MAGE-A4 TCE, Phase 1), CDR609 (LGR5 TCE, IND-enabling), CDR813 (PRAME TCE), CDR505 (KK-LC-1 TCE), CDR111 (trispecific CD19/BCMA/CD3 TCE for autoimmune disease), and CDR202/BI 771716 (geographic atrophy antibody fragment in Phase 2 with Boehringer Ingelheim).
The company operates a partnership-led business model rather than independent commercialization. Revenue is generated exclusively through licensing and milestone-based collaborations with pharmaceutical partners, most prominently a multi-program relationship with Boehringer Ingelheim covering both ophthalmology (2020, up to CHF 474.5M) and autoimmune disease (2025, up to USD 570M, ~USD 48M upfront). The model transfers global development and commercial responsibility to the partner while CDR-Life retains scientific leadership and earns upfront payments, success-based milestones, research funding, and tiered royalties. The company is backed by $76 million in Series A funding (April 2022) from Jeito Capital, RA Capital Management, and Omega Funds, and operates with approximately 70 employees across pharmacology, discovery, manufacturing, clinical operations, and translational science functions.
CDR-Life AG firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CDR-Life AG
- Legal name
- CDR-Life AG
- Website
- https://cdr-life.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- CDR-Life AG is a clinical-stage Swiss biotech developing antibody-based T cell engagers via its M-gager® platform to treat solid tumors and autoimmune diseases, partnering with Boehringer Ingelheim for global development of its pipeline.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CDR-Life AG industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Therapeutic Antibodies
- 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
- CAR-T & TCR-T Therapies (HLAAABAC)
Keywords
Where CDR-Life AG is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Schlieren
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
CDR-Life AG business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Licensing and Milestone Payments: CDR-Life generates revenue through licensing its proprietary M-gager® platform technology to pharmaceutical partners. Under licensing agreements, the company receives upfront payments, success-based milestone payments tied to development and regulatory achievements, research funding, and royalties on future product sales. The 2020 Boehringer Ingelheim collaboration was valued at up to CHF 474.5 million (~$520 million) in upfront and milestone payments. The 2025 expanded collaboration for CDR111 provides up to approximately USD 570 million including upfront and near-term payments plus tiered royalties.
- Equity Financing: CDR-Life raised $76 million in Series A funding in April 2022, led by Jeito Capital with participation from RA Capital Management and Omega Funds. This financing supports advancement of the M-gager® platform technology, lead product candidate CDR404 through clinical proof-of-concept, and expansion of the discovery pipeline.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
CDR-Life AG product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CDR-Life develops highly targeted T cell engager (TCE) therapies for solid tumors and autoimmune diseases using its proprietary M-gager® antibody fragment platform. The company's product candidates are based on bispecific and trispecific antibody fragments that redirect T cells to disease-specific antigens, including previously inaccessible intracellular tumor antigens presented on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Revenue is generated through licensing and co-development agreements with pharmaceutical partners rather than direct product sales.
Product overview
CDR-Life AG is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that has developed the M-gager® Platform, a proprietary antibody-based T cell engager technology for developing highly targeted immunotherapies. The company's pipeline consists of multiple therapeutic candidates: CDR404 (lead product, Phase 1) targets MAGE-A4 for solid tumors; CDR609 targets LGR5 for colorectal and other solid tumors; CDR813 targets PRAME; CDR505 targets KK-LC-1; and CDR111 is a trispecific T cell engager for autoimmune diseases licensed to Boehringer Ingelheim. The partnered product CDR202/BI 771716 (antibody fragment for geographic atrophy) is in Phase 2 with Boehringer Ingelheim. The platform enables targeting of both intracellular antigens presented on MHC and surface antigens, providing versatility across oncology and autoimmune disease applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- M-gager® Platform Proprietary integrated end-to-end antibody-based technology that uses a unique phage display library of billions of small antibody fragments to generate highly targeted bispecific and trispecific T cell engagers. Enables targeting of intracellular antigens displayed on MHC and challenging surface antigens through a Fab-(scFv)2 molecular format, offering high specificity, strong potency, excellent developability, and ease of manufacturing for oncology, autoimmune, and ophthalmology applications. The platform has generated 6 novel development candidates, with 2 advanced to clinical testing.
- CDR404 First-of-its-kind antibody-based bivalent and bispecific T cell engager targeting MAGE-A4 for treatment of MAGE-A4+ solid tumors (including non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck, ovarian, bladder, and synovial sarcoma) in HLA-A*02:01 positive patients. Currently in Phase 1 clinical trials in the US and Europe (NCT06402201).
- CDR202 / BI 771716 Highly specific antibody fragment of reduced size developed for treatment of geographic atrophy (GA), a leading cause of blindness in people over 65 with age-related macular degeneration. The reduced antibody fragment size enables optimized penetration through retinal layers. Licensed to Boehringer Ingelheim; in Phase 2 clinical trials.
- CDR609 Next-generation antibody-based M-gager T cell engager targeting LGR5, a cell surface antigen widely expressed on solid tumors including colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, and hepatocellular cancers (with over 75% expression in colorectal and gastric cancers). In IND-enabling studies.
- CDR813 Differentiated M-gager T cell engager targeting PRAME (preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma), a pan-cancer target expressed exclusively in cancer cells with no expression in normal tissue. In discovery/IND-enabling stage; relevant tumors include non-small cell lung cancer, endometrial, melanoma, and ovarian.
- CDR505 Tumor-selective M-gager T cell engager targeting KK-LC-1 (Kita-Kyushu lung cancer antigen-1) on HLA-A*01, relevant for previously unaddressed patient populations with colorectal, gastric, and pancreatic cancers. In discovery stage.
- CDR111 Trispecific T cell engager targeting CD19, BCMA, and CD3, designed to achieve immune reset through broad B-cell depletion for autoimmune diseases such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis. Licensed to Boehringer Ingelheim.
Quantifiable outcome
- CDR404 demonstrated all four pharmacodynamic hallmarks of T cell engager activity in Phase 1 patients at initial dose levels of 100-200 μg, including CD8+ T cell activation and expansion, reprogramming to memory phenotype, and recruitment of lymphocytes into tumors.
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use CDR-Life AG
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
CDR-Life AG technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
CDR-Life AG partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and minor.
- Boehringer IngelheimflagshipBoehringer Ingelheim and CDR-Life entered into a collaboration and licensing agreement in May 2020 to research and develop antibody fragment-based therapeutics for geographic atrophy (GA). Boehringer Ingelheim received exclusive worldwide license to develop compounds based on CDR-Life's technology. CDR-Life is eligible for up to CHF 474.5 million (~$520 million) in upfront and success-based milestone payments, plus research funding and royalties on sales. The partnership has achieved multiple milestones, with BI 771716 advancing to Phase 2 clinical testing for geographic atrophy. The collaboration was expanded in 2025 with a new global licensing agreement for CDR111, a trispecific M-gager for autoimmune diseases, with potential payments up to USD 570 million.
- University Hospital ZurichminorCDR-Life entered a research collaboration with Prof. Markus G. Manz, MD, Head of Medical Oncology and Hematology at University Hospital Zurich, for ex vivo studies to predict clinical response in multiple myeloma. The collaboration combines CDR-Life's trispecific antibodies with the hospital's clinical expertise and patient sample access.
- ETH ZürichminorCDR-Life entered a research collaboration with Prof. Berend Snijder at ETH Zürich to study the effect of novel trispecific T cell engagers on cancer patient samples using pharmacoscopy, a human ex vivo drug screening technology. The collaboration leverages CDR-Life's multispecific molecules with ETH's pharmacoscopy platform for drug response profiling.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CDR-Life AG competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Amgen (BiTE Platform): Major pharma with pioneering BiTE (bispecific T cell engager) platform, including approved drug Blincyto. Industry incumbent and primary TCE modality validator; competitive context for CDR-Life's approach.
- Genmab: Major biotech with proprietary DuoBody bispecific antibody platform and extensive pipeline including TCEs. Broader incumbent with multiple TCE programs in oncology; provides platform validation and competitive context for CDR-Life's M-gager platform.
Direct peers
- Xencor: Clinical-stage biotech with XmAb bispecific antibody platform developing multiple TCEs for oncology and autoimmune diseases. Direct peer as bispecific antibody platform company; comparable pipeline breadth and stage of clinical development.
- MacroGenics: Clinical-stage biotech developing multiple bispecific antibody platforms including DART and TRIDENT molecules for oncology. Direct peer as bispecific/TCE developer with similar therapeutic focus and clinical stage.
- Molecular Partners: Swiss clinical-stage biotech developing DARPin-based therapeutics including T cell engagers for oncology. Highly comparable as a Swiss biotech of similar size developing next-generation immune engagers with proprietary platforms.
- Cullinan Oncology: Clinical-stage oncology company developing T cell engagers and other immunotherapies, including programs targeting MAGE-A4 (CLN-L01) and other solid tumor antigens. Direct competitor to CDR-Life's lead asset and similar stage of clinical development.
- Janux Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing T cell engagers (TCEs) for cancer using proprietary tumor-activated T cell engager (TRACTr) platform technology. Directly comparable to CDR-Life's M-gager platform as a next-generation TCE developer pursuing solid tumor targets with differentiated technology.
- Numab Therapeutics: Swiss clinical-stage biotech developing multispecific antibodies using proprietary λ-Cap and MATCH platforms for oncology and autoimmune diseases. Direct peer as Swiss antibody platform company of similar size and stage.
- Harpoon Therapeutics: Was a clinical-stage biotech developing T cell engagers using its proprietary TriTAC and ProTriTAC platforms targeting solid tumors. Was acquired by Merck in 2024. Direct peer as TCE developer with similar modality and indication focus.
Emerging players
- Zymeworks: Clinical-stage biotech developing bispecific and multispecific antibodies using Azymetric and other platforms for oncology and autoimmune diseases. Comparable as multi-platform antibody developer with similar therapeutic focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CDR-Life AG social profiles
Digital presenceCDR-Life AG financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CDR-Life AG leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
CDR-Life AG funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CDR-Life AG 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 CDR-Life AG
What does CDR-Life AG do?
CDR-Life develops highly targeted T cell engager (TCE) therapies for solid tumors and autoimmune diseases using its proprietary M-gager® antibody fragment platform. The company's product candidates are based on bispecific and trispecific antibody fragments that redirect T cells to disease-specific antigens, including previously inaccessible intracellular tumor antigens presented on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Revenue is generated through licensing and co-development agreements with pharmaceutical partners rather than direct product sales.
Is CDR-Life AG a public or private company?
CDR-Life AG is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was CDR-Life AG founded?
CDR-Life AG was founded in 2017. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is CDR-Life AG based?
CDR-Life AG is headquartered in Schlieren, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does CDR-Life AG make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Licensing and Milestone Payments are the primary driver. The others are equity Financing.
Who are CDR-Life AG's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Amgen (BiTE Platform) and Genmab. Direct peers are Xencor, MacroGenics, Molecular Partners, Cullinan Oncology, Janux Therapeutics, Numab Therapeutics and Harpoon Therapeutics. Zymeworks is listed as an emerging player.
Does CDR-Life AG have an API?
No public API is recorded for CDR-Life AG.
What industry is CDR-Life AG in?
CDR-Life AG's product category is Therapeutic Antibodies. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAABAC, CAR-T & TCR-T Therapies. Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2834.