Hooke Bio

What Hooke Bio does

Hooke Bio is an Ireland-based private biotechnology company developing neutrophil-based immunotherapy for solid tumors. Its core asset is the IMAN (Immuno-Modulatory Alpha Neutrophil) programme, a novel therapeutic platform that leverages immuno-modulatory alpha neutrophils to target metastatic cancers, with initial clinical focus on metastatic cervical cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The firm is positioned at the preclinical-to-clinical-translation stage, with first-in-human trials scheduled to begin in Q4 2026. A separate firmographic description characterizes Hooke Bio as providing engineering solutions for the analysis of 3D microtissues for preclinical drug development, indicating either an earlier-line capability or a parallel offering; the bulk of available evidence and partnership activity centers on the IMAN immunotherapy platform. Headcount is reported at 11-50 employees, and leadership comprises CEO Mark Lyons, founder Mark Davies, and COO Finola Cliffe. The company is headquartered in Ireland, with sources variously identifying Limerick and Galway as its operating base, both of which sit within Ireland's established medtech and biopharma cluster.

The company's business model is research-and-grant-driven rather than revenue-generating. Capital is sourced from a mix of Irish state and EU innovation funding — Enterprise Ireland, the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, the Western Development Commission, Boole Investment Syndicate, Irrus Investments, and the EIC Accelerator — across at least six disclosed funding events from 2017 through 2025, totaling roughly $8.1M in disclosed equity-style rounds plus a €12M consortium grant awarded in July 2025. The €12M grant is shared across a consortium that includes LIfT BioSciences and the University of Galway, so Hooke Bio's attributable share is materially less than the headline figure. There is no disclosed pricing model, no commercial product revenue, no customer roster, and no channel or marketing infrastructure referenced. Customer definition in the source data is framed around use cases (cancer patients requiring immunotherapy for solid tumors) rather than paying accounts, reflecting pre-commercial status.

Go-to-market mechanics are not yet defined in the available sources; commercialization will depend on clinical readouts from the IMAN trials, regulatory progression, and either partnership with a larger biopharma for late-stage development and commercialization or an independent path to approval. Near-term value creation is therefore a function of clinical milestone execution, additional grant or equity capital raises, and the formation of strategic development partnerships rather than recurring revenue growth.

Name

Hooke Bio

Legal name

Hooke Bio

Website

https://hookebio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hooke Bio is an Ireland-based private biotech developing the IMAN (Immuno-Modulatory Alpha Neutrophil) neutrophil-based immunotherapy platform for solid tumors, with first-in-human trials in metastatic cervical and head and neck cancers scheduled for Q4 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Preclinical Drug Development

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

In Vitro Model Systems & Organoid Platforms (iPSC/organoids, microphysiological systems) (HLAAAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Therapeutic Peptides & Protein/Peptide Biologics (HLAAAAAH)

Keywords

• 3D microtissue analysis
• Preclinical drug development
• Cancer immunotherapy
• Neutrophil therapy
• Biotechnology engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Limerick

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain

Core offering

Hooke Bio is a biotechnology company providing engineering solutions for the analysis of 3D microtissues for preclinical drug development. The company develops the IMAN (Immuno-Modulatory Alpha Neutrophil) Programme, a neutrophil-based immunotherapy platform targeting solid tumors including metastatic cervical cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, with first-in-human clinical trials expected to begin in Q4 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 3D Microtissue Engineering Analysis Solutions

Quantifiable outcome

• Clinical trials expected to start in Q4 2026 for IMAN therapy

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• LIfT BioSciencescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 July 2025Hooke Bio participated as a consortium member alongside University of Galway and LIfT BioSciences in a €12 million funded project from Ireland's Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund. The consortium aims to advance the IMAN (Immuno-Modulatory Alpha Neutrophil) therapy toward first-in-human clinical trials for solid tumors including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and cervical cancer.
• University of GalwaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 July 2025University of Galway partnered with Hooke Bio and LIfT BioSciences in a consortium funded by Ireland's Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund. The university collaboration focuses on conducting research and clinical trials for neutrophil-based cancer therapies using IMAN technology.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• LIfT BioSciences: LIfT BioSciences is a UK/Ireland-based cell therapy company developing neutrophil-based immunotherapies for solid tumors, including the IMAN programme. It is a direct consortium partner with Hooke Bio on the €12M DTIF-funded clinical program, making it the most directly comparable peer in both technology and indication.
• Adaptimmune Therapeutics: Adaptimmune is a clinical-stage cell therapy company developing engineered T-cell therapies (SPEAR T-cells) for solid tumors. Comparable to Hooke Bio as a cell-based immunotherapy targeting solid tumor indications in oncology.
• Iovance Biotherapeutics: Iovance is a commercial-stage cell therapy company specializing in tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapies for solid tumors, including cervical cancer. Comparable to Hooke Bio as a cell therapy company targeting the same cervical cancer indication with similar modality.
• InSphero: InSphero is a Swiss company providing 3D microtissue (organoid) platforms and assay services for preclinical drug development. Highly comparable to Hooke Bio's 3D microtissue engineering business for preclinical drug analysis.
• MIMETAS: MIMETAS is a Dutch organ-on-chip company providing microfluidic 3D tissue models for drug discovery and development. Comparable to Hooke Bio's microtissue/preclinical platform business serving pharma R&D customers.
• CN Bio Innovations: CN Bio develops microphysiological organ-on-chip systems for preclinical drug development, including single- and multi-organ platforms. Directly comparable to Hooke Bio's 3D microtissue-based preclinical drug development offering.

Emerging players

• Emulate Inc. Emulate is a US-based organ-on-chip company providing organ-on-chip technology for drug development and toxicity testing. Comparable as an emerging player in the microphysiological systems space serving pharma R&D, similar to Hooke Bio's 3D microtissue work.
• Cytovant Sciences: Cytovant is an emerging cell therapy company developing autologous and allogeneic cell therapies for solid tumors and other indications. Comparable as an emerging player in solid tumor cell therapy, similar therapeutic space to Hooke Bio's IMAN programme.

Broad incumbents

• Allogene Therapeutics: Allogene is a clinical-stage cell therapy company developing allogeneic CAR-T therapies. Comparable as a broader incumbent cell therapy player in oncology, with potential overlap if neutrophil-based therapies expand into the broader cell therapy landscape.
• Fate Therapeutics: Fate Therapeutics develops off-the-shelf cell-based immunotherapies using engineered iPSC-derived natural killer cells and T-cells. Comparable as a broader cell therapy incumbent pursuing novel immune cell modalities for cancer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 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 Hooke Bio