Forge Therapeutics
Forge Therapeutics is a San Diego-based biotechnology company developing a purpose-built platform for metalloenzyme-targeted medicines by combining bio-inorganic chemistry with medicinal chemistry to discover novel therapeutics addressing serious diseases with high unmet need.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Forge Therapeutics does
Forge Therapeutics is a privately held, San Diego-based biotechnology company founded in 2013 that develops novel small-molecule medicines by combining bio-inorganic chemistry with medicinal chemistry. The company's core asset is a purpose-built discovery platform focused on human metalloenzyme-targeted medicines — therapeutic agents designed to modulate metalloenzymes implicated in serious diseases, including antibacterial-resistant infections (the company received three awards from CARB-X, an antibacterial-resistance-focused accelerator). The platform is engineered specifically for metalloenzyme chemistry, a niche where conventional small-molecule libraries have historically underperformed. Structured records indicate the entity currently operating under the legal name Blacksmith Medicines occupies the same address (3033 Science Park Road Suite 270, San Diego), suggesting a corporate restructuring or rebrand of the original Forge Therapeutics entity circa 2021, although the specific transition is not detailed in available sources.
The company was co-founded by Seth Cohen, David Puerta, and Zachary Zimmerman (CEO), with academic roots at the University of California, San Diego — an established center of excellence for bio-inorganic and metalloenzyme science. Headcount is reported at 1-10 employees, consistent with a research-stage biotech operating in capital-efficient mode. The lean team and chemistry-driven platform imply a business model oriented toward early pipeline value creation and out-licensing or partnership monetization rather than in-house commercialization.
Disclosed financing totals approximately $29.5 million across five rounds from 2016 to 2019, comprising venture capital and non-dilutive grant capital. Investors include MagnaSci Ventures (lead on the $15 million round in April 2017), Alexandria Venture Investments, Evotec, MP Healthcare Venture Management, Red Apple Group, WS Investments, CARB-X (three awards), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and TCA Venture Group. The company has not disclosed product pricing, partnerships, customers, or commercial revenues, consistent with a pre-clinical development stage.
Forge Therapeutics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Forge Therapeutics
- Legal name
- Blacksmith Medicines
- Website
- https://forgetherapeutics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Forge Therapeutics is a San Diego-based biotechnology company developing a purpose-built platform for metalloenzyme-targeted medicines by combining bio-inorganic chemistry with medicinal chemistry to discover novel therapeutics addressing serious diseases with high unmet need.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Forge Therapeutics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Antibacterial Drug Discovery
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (32541), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Primary Care & General Medicine Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAA)
Keywords
Where Forge Therapeutics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Forge Therapeutics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations
Forge Therapeutics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Forge Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that develops novel medicines by combining bio-inorganic chemistry with medicinal chemistry to target human metalloenzymes. The company operates a purpose-built drug discovery platform designed to identify and optimize inhibitors against metalloenzyme targets, with a primary focus on antibacterial therapeutics addressing antibiotic resistance.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Metalloenzyme-Targeted Drug Discovery Platform
Companies that use Forge Therapeutics
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles2 records
Forge Therapeutics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Forge Therapeutics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Forge Therapeutics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Entasis Therapeutics: Clinical-stage antibacterial company developing small-molecule metalloenzyme and β-lactamase inhibitors. Directly comparable in target class (metalloenzyme chemistry) and antibacterial focus to Forge/Blacksmith's CARB-X portfolio.
- Spero Therapeutics: Anti-infective company developing antibacterial therapies for drug-resistant pathogens. Comparable as a CARB-X-aligned, small-cap antibacterial platform pursuing differentiated mechanisms of action.
- Iterum Therapeutics: Anti-infective company developing oral and IV antibiotics against resistant Gram-negative pathogens. Comparable as a small-cap anti-infective platform company with similar capital profile and therapeutic focus.
- VenatoRx Pharmaceuticals: Anti-infective company developing β-lactamase inhibitors and metalloenzyme-targeted antibiotics for resistant bacteria. Strongly comparable in metalloenzyme antibacterial chemistry and grant-funded development approach.
- Cidara Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotechnology company developing anti-infectives, including antimicrobial conjugates and small molecules. Comparable as a small-cap anti-infective platform with a similar product-development structure.
Broad incumbents
- Melinta Therapeutics: Commercial-stage antibiotics company with a portfolio of approved antibacterial products. Comparable therapeutic area with broader, later-stage assets relevant for partnership and market-context benchmarking.
- Paratek Pharmaceuticals: Commercial-stage company developing tetracycline-class antibiotics (omadacycline). Comparable therapeutic area with established anti-infective commercial footprint relevant for understanding partner-acquirer interest.
- Anacor Pharmaceuticals: Acquired by Pfizer in 2016 for its boron-chemistry platform, including anti-infective assets. Relevant as a historical precedent for a small chemistry-platform antibacterial company being acquired by big pharma, illustrating an exit pathway.
Others
- Evotec: CRO/discovery partner and investor in the company's 2017 round. Relevant peer as both a strategic shareholder and a potential development partner through its Just–Evotec Biologics and infectious disease discovery operations.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Forge Therapeutics social profiles
Digital presenceForge Therapeutics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Forge Therapeutics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Forge Therapeutics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Forge Therapeutics 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 Forge Therapeutics
What does Forge Therapeutics do?
Forge Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that develops novel medicines by combining bio-inorganic chemistry with medicinal chemistry to target human metalloenzymes. The company operates a purpose-built drug discovery platform designed to identify and optimize inhibitors against metalloenzyme targets, with a primary focus on antibacterial therapeutics addressing antibiotic resistance.
Is Forge Therapeutics a public or private company?
Forge Therapeutics is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Forge Therapeutics founded?
Forge Therapeutics was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Forge Therapeutics based?
Forge Therapeutics is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Forge Therapeutics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Entasis Therapeutics, Spero Therapeutics, Iterum Therapeutics, VenatoRx Pharmaceuticals and Cidara Therapeutics. Broad incumbents are Melinta Therapeutics, Paratek Pharmaceuticals and Anacor Pharmaceuticals. Evotec is listed as an others.
Does Forge Therapeutics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Forge Therapeutics.
What industry is Forge Therapeutics in?
Forge Therapeutics's product category is Antibacterial Drug Discovery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAAAA, Primary Care & General Medicine Pharmaceuticals. Its NAICS code is 32541 and its SIC code is 2834.