Cantargia
Cantargia AB is a Swedish clinical-stage biotechnology company developing antibody-based therapeutics targeting IL1RAP for the treatment of solid tumors, hematological malignancies, and inflammatory diseases, with lead candidate nadunolimab in pancreatic and lung cancer clinical trials.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersLund, Sweden
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cantargia does
Cantargia AB is a Swedish clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2010 and headquartered in Lund, Sweden, developing antibody-based therapeutics that target Interleukin-1 Receptor Accessory Protein (IL1RAP) for the treatment of cancer and serious inflammatory diseases. The company's pipeline is built around an IL1RAP platform that has generated multiple antibody programs with distinct mechanisms of action: lead candidate nadunolimab (CAN04) is an anti-IL1RAP antibody that induces antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and blocks IL-1α and IL-1β signaling, with clinical activity demonstrated in approximately 300 patients across solid tumor indications including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The company received US FDA Fast Track Designation for nadunolimab in metastatic PDAC with high IL1RAP expression in June 2025. Additional programs include CAN10 (a second-generation IL1RAP antibody blocking IL-1, IL-33 and IL-36 signaling, divested to Otsuka Pharmaceutical in September 2025 for up to USD 613 million), CAN14 (a bispecific antibody in preclinical development), and early-stage CANxx programs exploring antibody-drug conjugate modalities.
Cantargia operates as a clinical-stage company with no commercialized products and therefore no product pricing or product revenue. Its revenue model is based on out-licensing and milestone payments from pharmaceutical partners, as demonstrated by the Otsuka transaction for CAN10 which generated SEK 280 million in 2025 net sales. Clinical development is conducted primarily through investigator-initiated trials at major cancer centers including Mount Sinai, MD Anderson, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Herlev Hospital, rather than through company-sponsored pivotal trials. The company is publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm under ticker CANTA, with approximately 281.9 million shares outstanding following the June 2026 rights issue. Capital is raised through periodic rights issues (notably approximately SEK 250 million in 2022 and SEK 75 million in June 2026) and a SEK 50 million loan facility from Fenja Capital II A/S signed in June 2025.
For 2025, the company reported net sales of SEK 316.7 million and an operating profit of SEK 154.1 million, reversing the operating loss of SEK 168.6 million reported in 2024. Cash and cash equivalents stood at SEK 281.8 million at year-end 2025, compared to SEK 33.0 million at year-end 2024. The company's strategic focus is on advancing nadunolimab in pancreatic cancer and expanding into hematological malignancies (MDS, AML), colorectal cancer, and lung cancer prevention, while leveraging the IL1RAP platform for additional pipeline opportunities. Leadership was refreshed in 2025-2026 with the appointment of Dr. Hilde Steineger as CEO and Dr. Wolfram Dempke as CMO.
Cantargia firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cantargia
- Legal name
- Cantargia AB
- Website
- https://cantargia.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cantargia AB is a Swedish clinical-stage biotechnology company developing antibody-based therapeutics targeting IL1RAP for the treatment of solid tumors, hematological malignancies, and inflammatory diseases, with lead candidate nadunolimab in pancreatic and lung cancer clinical trials.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Cantargia is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lund
- HQ country
- Sweden
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cantargia 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
- Licensing and Milestone Payments: Revenue generated through licensing deals and milestone payments from pharmaceutical partners. The CAN10 acquisition by Otsuka Pharmaceutical generated USD 33 million upfront with potential additional milestone payments up to USD 580 million and tiered royalties up to double digits on global sales.
- Equity Financing: Rights issues and capital raises to fund clinical development. Cantargia completed a rights issue of approximately SEK 124 million in 2026 and previously raised approximately SEK 250 million in 2022.
- Loan Facility: SEK 50 million loan agreement with Fenja Capital II A/S signed in June 2025, providing operational flexibility and extending cash runway into 2026.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Cantargia product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cantargia is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing antibody-based therapeutics that target IL1RAP (Interleukin-1 Receptor Accessory Protein) for the treatment of cancer and serious inflammatory/autoimmune diseases. Its lead asset, nadunolimab (CAN04), is an anti-IL1RAP antibody in clinical development for pancreatic cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and hematological malignancies, while the IL1RAP platform has supported additional programs including CAN10, CAN14, and CANxx.
Product overview
Cantargia is a Swedish biotech company developing antibody-based treatments targeting IL1RAP. The company operates a platform-based model with its IL1RAP technology as the foundation. The core product is nadunolimab (CAN04), an anti-IL1RAP antibody in clinical development for solid tumors including pancreatic cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. The portfolio includes CAN14 (bispecific antibody for inflammation), CANxx (early ADC-based research), and the now-acquired CAN10 program. Following the September 2025 acquisition of CAN10 by Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Cantargia retains its focus on oncology while the platform continues to support multiple pipeline candidates.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- nadunolimab (CAN04): Anti-IL1RAP antibody being studied clinically in combination with chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer and non-small cell lung cancer
- CAN14
- CANxx
Products and services
- Nadunolimab (CAN04)
- CAN10
- CAN14
- IL1RAP Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- Median overall survival of 14.2 months in PDAC patients with high IL1RAP expression treated with nadunolimab + gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Cantargia
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cantargia technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Cantargia partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer CentercoreInvestigator-initiated Phase 2 clinical trial in lung cancer prevention study (NCT07284485) in collaboration with Drs. Robert Samstein, Thomas Marron and Miriam Merad. Nadunolimab being evaluated as preventive treatment in current/former smokers with high-risk lung nodules.
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CentercoreInvestigator-initiated Phase 1b/2a trial evaluating nadunolimab in high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Led by Dr. Gautam Borthakur, Professor of leukemia. Study evaluating nadunolimab with azacitidine or azacitidine/venetoclax.
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaicoreInvestigator-initiated study in metastatic microsatellite stable colorectal cancer (MSS CRC). Dr. Dan Fang leading Phase 1b/2 trial (NCT07281716) investigating nadunolimab with checkpoint inhibitors in up to 24 patients. Research collaboration generating preclinical data showing nadunolimab effects in CRC models.
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of MiamicoreCollaboration with Dr. Jashodeep Datta's group on PDAC research. Data presented at AACR 2025 showing IL1RAP's role in PDAC microenvironment and nadunolimab's effects in preclinical KRAS-mutated PDAC models. Strong scientific rationale for targeting IL1RAP in pancreatic cancer.
- Herlev Hospital, CopenhagenminorResearch collaboration on tumor cell expression of IL1RAP in pancreatic cancer. Data demonstrating that high IL1RAP protein expression on tumor cells is linked to poor survival in PDAC patients treated with chemotherapy, while these patients showed longest survival when treated with nadunolimab combination therapy.
- Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.coreOtsuka acquired the CAN10 IL1RAP antibody program from Cantargia for USD 33 million upfront payment, with potential additional milestone payments up to USD 580 million comprising development, regulatory and commercial milestones. Tiered royalties up to double digits on global sales are applicable. Otsuka will direct and perform all future development, apply for regulatory approvals and exclusively carry out manufacturing and commercialization worldwide.
- Örebro UniversityminorResearch collaboration generating preclinical results showing CAN10's potential to inhibit vascular inflammation. Study published in Journal of the American Heart Association demonstrating IL1RAP-targeting antibodies can block IL-1, IL-33, and IL-36 induced inflammatory responses in endothelial cells.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Cantargia competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage biotech developing therapeutics targeting the IL-1 pathway (rilonacept, mavrilimumab, vixarelimab), making it one of the most directly comparable peers to Cantargia's IL1RAP-targeting approach. Similar focus on inflammation and immunology indications.
- Halozyme Therapeutics: Biotech with established PDAC development program (PEGPH20/Enhanze platform) and oncology focus. Directly comparable as a clinical-stage company targeting pancreatic cancer indications.
- CytomX Therapeutics: Clinical-stage oncology biotech developing a Probody antibody platform for cancer therapeutics, with multiple programs in solid tumors. Comparable as a platform-based antibody developer with similar stage and modality focus.
- Bolt Biotherapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing bispecific immunostimulatory antibodies (ISACs) for cancer. Similar modality (antibody-based), oncology focus, and clinical-stage profile as Cantargia.
- Macrogenics: Clinical-stage biotech developing multiple antibody-based therapeutics for cancer (including bispecifics and ADCs). Comparable in technology platform approach, oncology focus, and clinical development stage.
- Mersana Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for cancer, with a Dolasynthen platform. Comparable as Cantargia explores ADC approaches (CANxx) within its IL1RAP platform.
Regional players
- Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi): Swedish-headquartered specialty biotech with Kineret (anakinra, an IL-1 receptor antagonist) in its portfolio. Comparable as a Swedish biotech with established IL-1 pathway products, providing regional and therapeutic context.
Broad incumbents
- AstraZeneca: Global biopharmaceutical company with deep oncology pipeline (durvalumab for multiple cancers, Tagrisso, Lynparza) and respiratory/inflammation portfolio. Comparable as a potential strategic partner or acquirer; Cantargia's new CMO has prior leadership experience at AstraZeneca.
- Bristol-Myers Squibb: Major oncology company with multiple antibody therapeutics (Opdivo, Yervoy, others) and deep PDAC development programs. Comparable as a potential large pharma partner/acquirer; Cantargia's CMO also has prior leadership experience at BMS.
- Ipsen: Global specialty pharma with oncology focus (Somatuline, Onivyde for PDAC, Cabometyx). Comparable as an established oncology player with pancreatic cancer franchise, providing potential partnership or acquisition interest.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cantargia social profiles
Digital presenceCantargia financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cantargia leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Cantargia funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cantargia 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 Cantargia
What does Cantargia do?
Cantargia is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing antibody-based therapeutics that target IL1RAP (Interleukin-1 Receptor Accessory Protein) for the treatment of cancer and serious inflammatory/autoimmune diseases. Its lead asset, nadunolimab (CAN04), is an anti-IL1RAP antibody in clinical development for pancreatic cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and hematological malignancies, while the IL1RAP platform has supported additional programs including CAN10, CAN14, and CANxx.
Is Cantargia a public or private company?
Cantargia is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Cantargia founded?
Cantargia was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cantargia based?
Cantargia is headquartered in Lund, Sweden, in the Europe region.
How does Cantargia make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Licensing and Milestone Payments are the primary driver. The others are equity Financing and loan Facility.
Who are Cantargia's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Halozyme Therapeutics, CytomX Therapeutics, Bolt Biotherapeutics, Macrogenics and Mersana Therapeutics. Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi) is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Ipsen.
Does Cantargia have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cantargia.