Simnova
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersCambridge, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Simnova does
Simnova Biotherapeutics (Shanghai Simnova Biotech Co., Ltd. / 上海先博生物科技有限公司) is a clinical-stage biotech company developing engineered cell therapies for oncology and, secondarily, autoimmune indications. The company operates two proprietary technology platforms: a universal off-the-shelf CAR-NK platform — anchored on innovative CAR design for in-vivo persistence, mature donor screening, and an iPSC-NK backbone with multiple gene-editing capabilities — and a BiTE CAR-T platform that combines CARs with bispecific T-cell engagers in a single gene-modified T-cell product to address antigen escape and tumor heterogeneity in solid tumors. The disclosed pipeline comprises six wholly-owned clinical-stage programs (SNC103 targeting CD19; SNC112 targeting BCMA/GPRC5D for multiple myeloma; SNC113 and SNC115 in solid tumors; SNC109, a multi-target construct for glioblastoma; and SNC102, a BCMA BiTE CAR-T), plus two in-licensed in vivo panCAR programs from Orna Therapeutics (CD19/ORN-101 and a newly added BCMA program) for which Simnova holds Greater China rights.
The business model is pre-commercial: Simnova generates no product revenue today and intends to monetize through one-time product sales or licensing upon regulatory approval. GTM is the traditional clinical-stage biotech model — enterprise partnerships, direct engagement with clinical trial sites and KOLs, and conference-led scientific positioning — with planned distribution through specialty pharmacy and hospital channels post-approval. The company was founded in 2019 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, completed a GMP manufacturing facility in Shanghai in 2020, and was spun off from Simcere in 2021 to operate as an independent cell-therapy-focused entity. It is led by CEO Cao Zhuoxiao (M.D., Ph.D.), Clinical SVP Wen Limin (M.D., Ph.D.), and scientific advisors Dr. Wang Pin (USC) and Dr. Tamas Oravecz (CSO U.S. of Simcere), and is funded by a March 2024 ~$27.8M round led by Youshan Capital with Guochuang Qinzhi, Oriza Seed Capital, and PagodaTree Partners.
Simnova firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Simnova
- Legal name
- Shanghai Simnova Biotech Co., Ltd.
- Website
- https://simnovabio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Simnova industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cell Therapy
- NAICS
- Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cell Therapy Enabling Technologies (gene editing, cell engineering, delivery methods) (HLAAABAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Cell Banking & Viral Seed Services (MCB/WCB/VSB) (HLAGAGAD)
Keywords
Where Simnova is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cambridge
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Simnova business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Cell Therapy Products: Pre-commercial stage. Simnova is developing CAR-NK and CAR-T cell therapies targeting hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Revenue will be generated from product sales upon regulatory approval. The company has a rich R&D pipeline with programs in various clinical stages.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Simnova product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Simnova (Shanghai Simnova Biotech Co., Ltd.) is a clinical-stage biotech company developing CAR-based cell therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Its pipeline is built on two proprietary technology platforms: an allogeneic universal off-the-shelf CAR-NK platform (programs SNC103, SNC112, SNC113, SNC115) targeting hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, and a BiTE CAR-T platform (programs SNC109, SNC102) for glioblastoma and multiple myeloma. The company also in-licensed Orna Therapeutics' circular RNA-based in vivo cell therapies (ORN-101/BCMA panCAR) for development and commercialization in Greater China.
Product overview
Simnova is a clinical-stage biotech company developing cell therapies for cancer treatment. The company's product portfolio centers on two proprietary technology platforms: an off-the-shelf universal CAR-NK platform (producing SNC103, SNC112, SNC113, and SNC115) and a BiTE CAR-T platform (producing SNC109 and SNC102). The CAR-NK platform features innovative CAR design, mature donor screening methods, and an iPSC-NK platform with gene editing capabilities. The BiTE CAR-T platform combines CARs with BiTEs into single gene-modified T-cell products to address solid tumor barriers. Simnova also collaborates with Orna Therapeutics on in vivo cell therapies using circular RNA technology, including ORN-101 (CD19-targeted) and BCMA-targeted programs, licensed for Greater China development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SNC103 Allogeneic off-the-shelf CAR-NK cell therapy targeting CD19 for the treatment of B-cell malignancies. Developed on Simnova's universal off-the-shelf CAR-NK platform for oncology patients with hematologic cancers.
- SNC112
Companies that use Simnova
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Simnova technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Simnova partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Orna TherapeuticscoreExpanded strategic collaboration to include BCMA (B-cell maturation antigen) as a designated biological target for RNA-based therapeutics development. Simnova pursues research, development, and commercialization of in vivo panCAR cell therapies targeting BCMA in greater China. Orna retains rights for rest of world. Each party eligible for upfront payments, clinical development milestones, regulatory milestones, commercialization milestones, and royalties on approved products. Initial collaboration in January 2023 granted Simnova exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Orna's in vivo cell therapy products in Greater China, including ORN-101 (CD19 targeting isCAR project).
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Simnova competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Nkarta Therapeutics: Nkarta is a clinical-stage biotech developing off-the-shelf, allogeneic CAR-NK cell therapies for hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, directly comparable to Simnova's CAR-NK pipeline (SNC103, SNC112, SNC113, SNC115).
- Fate Therapeutics: Fate develops iPSC-derived NK and T-cell therapies, including off-the-shelf CAR-NK products. Its iPSC platform and multiple gene-edited NK programs are closely analogous to Simnova's iPSC-NK and allogeneic CAR-NK strategy.
- Adicet Bio: Adicet develops allogeneic gamma-delta CAR-T and CAR-NK cell therapies for hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, making it a direct off-the-shelf cell therapy peer to Simnova's CAR-NK and CAR-T programs.
- Allogene Therapeutics: Allogene is a pioneer in allogeneic, off-the-shelf CAR-T cell therapy with clinical assets in lymphoma and multiple myeloma — directly comparable to Simnova's allogeneic CAR-NK and BiTE CAR-T pipeline targeting similar indications.
- Caribou Biosciences: Caribou develops allogeneic CAR-T cell therapies using CRISPR-based gene editing, with clinical programs in B-cell malignancies — overlapping with Simnova's CD19/BCMA allogeneic cell therapy pipeline.
- Cellectis: Cellectis is a clinical-stage gene-editing company developing allogeneic CAR-T platforms (UCART), with multiple gene-edited programs in hematologic malignancies — directly comparable to Simnova's gene-edited iPSC-NK and CAR-T approach.
- Century Therapeutics: Century develops iPSC-derived, gene-edited allogeneic NK and T-cell therapies for hematologic and solid tumors. Its iPSC + multi-gene-editing platform closely parallels Simnova's iPSC-NK platform and gene-editing capabilities.
- Cytovia Therapeutics: Cytovia is developing iPSC-derived NK and CAR-NK cell therapies for solid tumors and hematologic cancers, with programs targeting similar indications (e.g., BCMA multiple myeloma) to Simnova's SNC112 and SNC102.
Broad incumbents
- CRISPR Therapeutics: CRISPR Therapeutics is a commercial-stage gene-editing company with Casgevy (exa-cel) and an allogeneic CAR-T platform. It is a broader incumbent that competes with Simnova on gene-edited cell therapies, though at a larger scale and across more modalities.
- 2seventy bio: 2seventy bio is commercial-stage cell therapy company (Abecma, ide-cel for multiple myeloma). It competes with Simnova's BCMA programs (SNC102, SNC112) and provides a benchmark for CAR-T commercialization in BCMA multiple myeloma.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Simnova social profiles
Digital presenceSimnova financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Simnova leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Simnova funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Simnova 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 Simnova
What does Simnova do?
Simnova (Shanghai Simnova Biotech Co., Ltd.) is a clinical-stage biotech company developing CAR-based cell therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Its pipeline is built on two proprietary technology platforms: an allogeneic universal off-the-shelf CAR-NK platform (programs SNC103, SNC112, SNC113, SNC115) targeting hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, and a BiTE CAR-T platform (programs SNC109, SNC102) for glioblastoma and multiple myeloma. The company also in-licensed Orna Therapeutics' circular RNA-based in vivo cell therapies (ORN-101/BCMA panCAR) for development and commercialization in Greater China.
Is Simnova a public or private company?
Simnova is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Simnova founded?
Simnova was founded in 2019. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Simnova based?
Simnova is headquartered in Cambridge, United States, in the North America region.
How does Simnova make money?
One revenue line is on record: cell Therapy Products.
Who are Simnova's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Nkarta Therapeutics, Fate Therapeutics, Adicet Bio, Allogene Therapeutics, Caribou Biosciences, Cellectis, Century Therapeutics and Cytovia Therapeutics. Broad incumbents are CRISPR Therapeutics and 2seventy bio.
Does Simnova have an API?
No public API is recorded for Simnova.
What industry is Simnova in?
Simnova's product category is Cell Therapy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAABAL, Cell Therapy Enabling Technologies (gene editing, cell engineering, delivery methods), with a secondary code of HLAGAGAD, Cell Banking & Viral Seed Services (MCB/WCB/VSB). Its NAICS code is 325414 and its SIC code is 2836.