What SELLAS Life Sciences Group does

SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SLS) is a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company headquartered at 7 Times Square, New York, focused on developing novel cancer therapeutics across hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. The company's pipeline is built on two core, in-licensed assets: galinpepimut-S (GPS), a multi-peptide cancer immunotherapeutic licensed globally from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center that targets the Wilms Tumor 1 (WT1) protein — ranked by the NCI as the top-priority cancer antigen — using AI-designed heteroclitic peptides to elicit CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses; and SLS009 (tambiciclib), a highly selective small-molecule CDK9 inhibitor licensed from GenFleet Therapeutics for development and commercialization worldwide outside Greater China, which downregulates MCL-1 and c-MYC to overcome venetoclax resistance in AML. GPS is in a pivotal Phase 3 REGAL trial in AML patients in second complete remission (78 of 80 survival events reached as of May 2026), with completed Phase 2 data also in MPM and multiple myeloma; SLS009 is in Phase 2 for relapsed/refractory and newly diagnosed AML, with a 46% ORR in combination with venetoclax/azacitidine and topline data expected Q4 2026.

SELLAS currently has no commercial products and no product revenue. Its economics rely on equity financings, warrant exercises, an at-the-market facility, and the potential future monetization of assets via partnership, licensing, or strategic transaction. The company operates with 51–100 employees, runs approximately 95 clinical trial sites across the US, Europe, and Asia, and maintains regional partnerships with 3D Medicines (Greater China rights for GPS and GPS+) and GenFleet Therapeutics (SLS009 Greater China and PTCL co-development). Recent signals — including change-of-control amendments to executive employment agreements and a 382% twelve-month stock return on M&A speculation — indicate the company is positioning for a potential strategic transaction ahead of the Phase 3 REGAL readout and the SLS009 Phase 2 readout.

Name

SELLAS Life Sciences Group

Legal name

SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc.

Website

https://sellaslifesciences.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SELLAS Life Sciences Group is a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company developing novel cancer immunotherapeutics and a selective CDK9 inhibitor for hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, with lead assets GPS and SLS009 in Phase 3 and Phase 2 trials respectively for AML.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clinical-Stage Oncology Biopharmaceuticals

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Oncology & Hematology Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rare Oncology & Hematologic Malignancy Therapies (HLAIAIAC), Oncology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAA)

Keywords

• Cancer immunotherapy
• WT1 targeting therapy
• CDK9 inhibitor
• Acute myeloid leukemia treatment
• Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. No current revenue: SELLAS Life Sciences is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with no commercialized products and no current revenue. The company is entirely focused on research and development of cancer therapeutics. All funding comes from equity financings, warrant exercises, and potential future licensing/partnership deals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SELLAS Life Sciences Group is a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company developing two main therapeutic candidates: galinpepimut-S (GPS), a multi-peptide cancer immunotherapeutic targeting the Wilms Tumor 1 (WT1) protein licensed from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and SLS009 (tambiciclib), a highly selective small molecule CDK9 inhibitor licensed from GenFleet Therapeutics. Both candidates are being advanced through clinical trials primarily for hematologic malignancies such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Product overview

SELLAS Life Sciences Group is a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel cancer therapies. The company's product portfolio centers on two clinical-stage therapeutic candidates: Galinpepimut-S (GPS), a WT1-targeting immunotherapeutic licensed from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and SLS009, a highly selective CDK9 inhibitor licensed from GenFleet Therapeutics. GPS is undergoing a pivotal Phase 3 REGAL trial for acute myeloid leukemia, while SLS009 is in Phase 2 development for AML. The company also holds rights to GPS+, a next-generation heptavalent immunotherapeutic (preclinical stage) for Greater China territory.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GPS (Galinpepimut-S): WT1-targeting cancer immunotherapeutic agent targeting the Wilms tumor 1 protein, licensed from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Under development for AML, multiple myeloma, ovarian cancer, and malignant pleural mesothelioma.
• SLS009

Products and services

• Galinpepimut-S (GPS) Galinpepimut-S (GPS) is a WT1-targeting cancer immunotherapeutic containing four peptides (including AI-designed heteroclitic peptides) that elicit CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell immune responses against the Wilms Tumor 1 protein. It is in a pivotal Phase 3 REGAL trial for AML patients in second complete remission (CR2) who are ineligible for allogeneic stem cell transplant, and has completed Phase 2 trials in AML, ovarian cancer, malignant pleural mesothelioma, and multiple myeloma.
• SLS009 (tambiciclib) SLS009 (tambiciclib) is a highly selective small molecule cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) inhibitor that decreases MCL-1 and c-MYC levels, leading to cancer cell apoptosis. In-licensed from GenFleet Therapeutics for development outside Greater China, SLS009 is being studied in a Phase 2 trial in newly diagnosed first-line AML (with topline data expected Q4 2026) and Phase 1b/II trials in relapsed/refractory AML (showing a 46% overall response rate in combination with venetoclax/azacitidine) and relapsed/refractory PTCL.

Quantifiable outcome

• Phase 2 AML CR2 study: Median OS of 67.6 months with GPS maintenance vs. 5.4 months for best standard care (p<0.02)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.

• GenFleet Therapeutics (Shanghai) Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2022March 2022: Exclusive license agreement with GenFleet Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on oncology and immunology, for SLS009 (highly selective CDK9 inhibitor) across all therapeutic and diagnostic uses worldwide outside of the Greater China Region. SLS009 is SELLAS's second clinical-stage asset.
• 3D Medicines Inc.regionalTechnology or Integration · 1 December 2020December 2020: Exclusive license agreement with 3D Medicines Inc., a China-based biopharmaceutical company, for the development and commercialization of GPS and next-generation GPS+ across all therapeutic and diagnostic uses in Greater China territory (mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan). SELLAS retains sole rights outside Greater China.
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 September 2014September 2014: SELLAS entered an exclusive global collaboration and license agreement with MSKCC for the development, marketing, and commercialization of MSKCC's proprietary WT1 cancer immunotherapy, galinpepimut-S (GPS). This is SELLAS's core technology platform and primary product candidate.
• GenFleet Therapeutics (NCT05934513)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhase Ib/II study of SLS009 monotherapy in relapsed/refractory PTCL in China, sponsored and fully funded by GenFleet Therapeutics. Will enroll up to 95 patients across two stages.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Actinium Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted radiotherapies for hematologic malignancies, particularly AML. Direct comparable as a small-cap oncology biotech with similar pipeline stage, AML focus, and reliance on capital markets for funding.
• MEI Pharma: Late-stage clinical oncology company focused on hematologic cancers with in-licensed and proprietary drug candidates. Direct comparable to SELLAS in scale, stage, oncology-only focus, and clinical development model targeting AML and related indications.
• Karyopharm Therapeutics: Clinical-stage specialty oncology company developing innovative treatments for hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Direct comparable as a small-cap, clinical-stage oncology biotech with no commercial revenue, multiple in-licensed assets, and a similar investor profile and dilution trajectory.
• Syros Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for hematologic malignancies through gene regulation. Comparable as a small-cap, clinical-stage biotech focused on hematologic cancers with similar regulatory and funding profile.
• Cogent Biosciences: Clinical-stage biotechnology company developing precision therapies for genetically defined diseases including hematologic malignancies. Comparable as a small-cap, clinical-stage oncology company with multiple assets in development and similar financial profile.

Broad incumbents

• AbbVie: Global biopharmaceutical company commercializing venetoclax (Venclexta) for AML in combination with azacitidine. Broad incumbent competitor in the AML space where SELLAS's SLS009 is positioned to address venetoclax-resistant populations.
• Bristol-Myers Squibb: Large pharmaceutical company with established AML franchise (azacitidine/Vidaza, cytarabine combinations) and broad oncology portfolio. Represents a likely strategic acquirer for SELLAS given overlap in AML and immunotherapy areas.

Emerging players

• Aprea Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel cancer therapies targeting DNA damage response pathways. Comparable as an emerging clinical-stage oncology company with similar pipeline stage and capital markets dependency, though different mechanistic focus.
• Theseus Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage oncology company developing tyrosine kinase inhibitors for cancer treatment including hematologic malignancies. Comparable as a small-cap, AML-focused clinical-stage oncology company with similar pipeline stage.

Regional players

• GenFleet Therapeutics: Shanghai-based clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on oncology and immunology, and SELLAS's licensor for SLS009. Regional peer operating in the same oncology space, holding Greater China rights to SLS009 and developing it independently there.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/galena-biopharma
• Xx.com/galenabiopharma
• Facebookfacebook.com/206999956034679

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SELLAS Life Sciences Group