Atara Biotherapeutics
Atara Biotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing allogeneic T-cell immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases, with lead product tabelecleucel approved in the EU for EBV+ PTLD and a pipeline including CAR T candidates ATA3219 and ATA3431.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSouth San Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Atara Biotherapeutics does
Atara Biotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing allogeneic (off-the-shelf) T-cell immunotherapies for patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California (Nasdaq: ATRA), the company leverages a proprietary EBV T-cell platform that uses donor-derived T cells enriched for EBV specificity through a unique manufacturing process, without requiring T-cell receptor or HLA gene editing. The platform can reportedly produce over 1,000 doses from a single healthy donor, enabling rapid delivery within days rather than the weeks required for autologous therapies.
The lead product, tabelecleucel (tab-cel/Ebvalvo), is the first allogeneic T-cell immunotherapy to receive regulatory approval globally and is authorized in the European Union for relapsed or refractory EBV-positive post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (EBV+ PTLD). However, the U.S. pathway remains unresolved after the FDA issued Complete Response Letters in January 2025 and January 2026, with a positive Type A meeting in May 2026 indicating a potential resubmission path. The pipeline includes ATA3219, an allogeneic anti-CD19 CAR T therapy in Phase 1 for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and lupus nephritis; ATA3431, a preclinical CD19/CD20 dual CAR T; and ATA188, an EBV-targeted T-cell therapy previously in Phase 1 for progressive multiple sclerosis. Core technology features include a novel 1XX costimulatory domain, PD-1 dominant negative receptor, memory phenotype T cells, and an unedited TCR architecture, originally licensed from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in 2015 and expanded in 2018.
Atara generates revenue primarily through licensing, milestone, and royalty arrangements with its global commercialization partner, Pierre Fabre Pharmaceuticals, which assumed ownership of the tabelecleucel BLA in November 2025. Recurring revenue has been minimal and lumpy, with FY2025 revenue of $120.77 million inflated by a one-time milestone acceleration and Q1 2026 revenue collapsing to $0.5 million following the BLA transfer. The company has supplemented capital through repeated dilutive financings, raising approximately $67 million across 2024-2025 registered direct offerings and ATM programs. Operating expenses were reduced from $212.4 million in 2024 to $84.9 million in 2025, but cash reserves declined to $8.5 million with stated runway only to mid-2027.
Atara Biotherapeutics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Atara Biotherapeutics
- Legal name
- Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.
- Website
- https://atarabio.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Atara Biotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing allogeneic T-cell immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases, with lead product tabelecleucel approved in the EU for EBV+ PTLD and a pipeline including CAR T candidates ATA3219 and ATA3431.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Atara Biotherapeutics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Allogeneic T-cell Immunotherapy
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cell Therapy Developers (Allogeneic/Off-the-shelf) (HLAAABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- CAR-T & TCR-T Therapies (HLAAABAC), Cell Therapy Enabling Technologies (gene editing, cell engineering, delivery methods) (HLAAABAL)
Keywords
Where Atara Biotherapeutics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- South San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Atara Biotherapeutics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Licensing and Royalty Revenue: Revenue generated through licensing agreements and royalty payments from commercial partners. Pierre Fabre partnership generates milestone payments and royalties on net sales of tab-cel in licensed territories including Europe and other international markets.
- Milestone Payments: One-time payments upon achievement of regulatory and commercial milestones. The company has received and expects future milestone payments tied to FDA approval of tabelecleucel, with a $9 million milestone payment deferred to January 2028 under the HCRx agreement.
- ATM Equity Offerings: At-the-market equity offerings used to raise capital. The company has conducted multiple registered direct offerings and ATM programs to fund operations, with recent proceeds of $3.0 million extending cash runway.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Not publicly disclosed |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Atara Biotherapeutics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Atara Biotherapeutics develops off-the-shelf, allogeneic T-cell immunotherapies derived from healthy donors and engineered to target cancers and autoimmune diseases. The lead product, tabelecleucel (tab-cel®), is approved in the European Union for relapsed/refractory EBV-positive post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease. The pipeline extends to allogeneic CAR T-cell therapies (ATA3219 for B-cell NHL and lupus nephritis; ATA3431 for CD19/CD20 B-cell malignancies) and ATA188 for progressive multiple sclerosis. All candidates are based on the company's proprietary EBV T-cell platform that does not require TCR or HLA gene editing.
Product overview
Atara Biotherapeutics is an allogeneic T-cell immunotherapy company developing a pipeline of off-the-shelf cell therapies targeting cancers and autoimmune diseases. The company's core platform is based on Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) T cells that can be modified with CAR constructs for broad applications. The lead product, tabelecleucel (tab-cel®), is approved in Europe for EBV+ PTLD and under FDA review in the U.S. The pipeline includes ATA3219 (CD19 CAR T for B-cell NHL and lupus nephritis, Phase 1), ATA3431 (CD19/CD20 bispecific CAR T, preclinical), and ATA188 (EBV T-cell for multiple sclerosis). The company leverages strategic partnerships with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for CAR technologies and Pierre Fabre Pharmaceuticals for commercialization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- tabelecleucel (tab-cel® / Ebvallo)
Quantifiable outcome
- Only 20-40% of eligible patients receive CAR T therapy due to manufacturing and access challenges
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Atara Biotherapeutics
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Atara Biotherapeutics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Atara Biotherapeutics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- FDA (Regulatory)corePierre Fabre and Atara held Type A meeting with FDA regarding tabelecleucel BLA. FDA agreed that single-arm study with historical control incorporating additional patients and longer follow-up could support future marketing application. Regulatory update expected in Q3 2026.
- Pierre Fabre PharmaceuticalsflagshipStrategic collaboration to commercialize tab-cel in Europe, Middle East, Africa, and select emerging markets. Initial agreement (2021) expanded in 2023 to include all global countries including U.S. Pierre Fabre holds BLA for tabelecleucel following transfer from Atara in November 2025. Partners working with FDA on resubmission path following CRL rejection. HCRx milestone payment extended to January 2028.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CentercoreLicense agreement for development, manufacturing, and commercialization of allogeneic T-cell immunotherapies developed in Dr. Richard O'Reilly's lab. Includes rights to tab-cel for treatment of cancers and persistent viral infections. Expanded in 2018 to include next-generation CAR T technologies including 1XX costimulatory domain and exclusive research collaboration with Dr. Michel Sadelain for multiple targets.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Atara Biotherapeutics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Adaptimmune Therapeutics: Adaptimmune develops SPEAR T-cell receptor (TCR) therapies for solid tumors. Comparable to Atara given both companies work with engineered T-cell platforms targeting cancer, though Adaptimmune focuses on autologous TCR-T while Atara focuses on allogeneic EBV T-cell approaches.
- Cellectis: Cellectis is a clinical-stage gene-editing company developing allogeneic CAR T therapies (UCART products). Comparable to Atara in targeting allogeneic CAR T for hematologic malignancies, though Cellectis uses TALEN gene editing while Atara's platform avoids TCR/HLA editing.
- Fate Therapeutics: Fate Therapeutics develops off-the-shelf, iPSC-derived cell therapies including NK and T-cell candidates for cancer and autoimmune disease. Highly comparable to Atara given shared allogeneic cell therapy platform approach and overlap in oncology indications; Atara's CEO Cokey Nguyen previously served as VP at Fate.
- Precision BioSciences: Precision develops allogeneic CAR T therapies using ARCUS gene editing for oncology and autoimmune diseases. Comparable to Atara's allogeneic CAR T programs (ATA3219, ATA3431) in platform approach and target indications.
- Caribou Biosciences: Caribou is a clinical-stage allogeneic CAR T and NK cell therapy company using CRISPR gene editing. Comparable to Atara in developing off-the-shelf cell therapies for hematologic malignancies, though Caribou uses gene editing where Atara's platform avoids it.
- Allogene Therapeutics: Allogene is a leading allogeneic CAR T developer with multiple off-the-shelf cell therapy candidates in oncology. Directly comparable to Atara given shared focus on allogeneic T-cell platforms and similar regulatory/commercial challenges in advancing off-the-shelf therapies.
Emerging players
- Century Therapeutics: Century develops iPSC-derived allogeneic cell therapies including CAR T and NK programs for cancer and autoimmune disease. Comparable emerging player to Atara with overlapping allogeneic platform approach and autoimmune disease ambitions.
- Nkarta: Nkarta develops allogeneic NK cell therapies for cancer and autoimmune disease. Comparable to Atara as an allogeneic cell therapy company with emerging autoimmune indications, though Nkarta uses NK cells rather than T cells.
Broad incumbents
- Iovance Biotherapeutics: Iovance is an established cell therapy company with FDA-approved lifileucel for solid tumors and a broad autologous TIL platform. While Atara focuses on allogeneic T cells and Iovance on autologous TIL, both target cancer with cellular immunotherapy and compete for similar oncology clinical and commercial resources.
- Crispr Therapeutics: Crispr Therapeutics is a leading gene-editing company with Casgevy (the first CRISPR-based therapy) approved for sickle cell disease. While larger and broader in scope, both companies operate in cell and gene therapy with focus on advancing curative therapies for serious diseases.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Atara Biotherapeutics social profiles
Digital presenceAtara Biotherapeutics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Atara Biotherapeutics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Atara Biotherapeutics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds12 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Atara Biotherapeutics 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 Atara Biotherapeutics
What does Atara Biotherapeutics do?
Atara Biotherapeutics develops off-the-shelf, allogeneic T-cell immunotherapies derived from healthy donors and engineered to target cancers and autoimmune diseases. The lead product, tabelecleucel (tab-cel®), is approved in the European Union for relapsed/refractory EBV-positive post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease. The pipeline extends to allogeneic CAR T-cell therapies (ATA3219 for B-cell NHL and lupus nephritis; ATA3431 for CD19/CD20 B-cell malignancies) and ATA188 for progressive multiple sclerosis. All candidates are based on the company's proprietary EBV T-cell platform that does not require TCR or HLA gene editing.
Is Atara Biotherapeutics a public or private company?
Atara Biotherapeutics is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Atara Biotherapeutics founded?
Atara Biotherapeutics was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Atara Biotherapeutics based?
Atara Biotherapeutics is headquartered in South San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Atara Biotherapeutics make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Licensing and Royalty Revenue is the primary driver. The others are milestone Payments and ATM Equity Offerings.
Who are Atara Biotherapeutics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Adaptimmune Therapeutics, Cellectis, Fate Therapeutics, Precision BioSciences, Caribou Biosciences and Allogene Therapeutics. Emerging players are Century Therapeutics and Nkarta. Broad incumbents are Iovance Biotherapeutics and Crispr Therapeutics.
Does Atara Biotherapeutics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Atara Biotherapeutics.
What industry is Atara Biotherapeutics in?
Atara Biotherapeutics's product category is Allogeneic T-cell Immunotherapy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAABAB, Cell Therapy Developers (Allogeneic/Off-the-shelf), with a secondary code of HLAAABAC, CAR-T & TCR-T Therapies. Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.