GlycoMimetics
GlycoMimetics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2003 in Gaithersburg, Maryland, developing small-molecule glycomimetic therapeutics for cancer. Pre-revenue and acquired by Crescent Biopharma in October 2024.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersGaithersburg, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What GlycoMimetics does
GlycoMimetics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2003 and headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, that discovers and develops small-molecule glycomimetic therapeutics for oncology. The company's scientific premise centers on modulating carbohydrate-mediated biological interactions — particularly selectin-ligand binding implicated in tumor cell adhesion, metastasis and vascular biology — using chemically engineered sugar mimetics designed to improve drug-like properties relative to native glycans. Its pipeline has historically been oriented toward hematologic malignancies (notably uproleselan for acute myeloid leukemia) and has subsequently expanded into solid tumor indications.
The company operated as a publicly traded entity on NASDAQ under ticker GLYC and funded its development programs through repeated equity financings, accumulating more than $338M in capital across its independent history. It was pre-revenue throughout this period, with no approved products and economics driven entirely by R&D spend financed by capital markets rather than commercial sales. Scientific leadership was anchored by co-founder John Magnani, who served concurrently as VP, Chief Scientific Officer and SVP of Research, providing continuity of the carbohydrate-mimetic discovery platform. Headcount was small (11–50 employees), consistent with a focused clinical-stage biotech rather than a commercial-stage organization.
In October 2024, GlycoMimetics was acquired by Crescent Biopharma, and the combined entity now operates under the Crescent Biopharma name. The merger was supported by a $185M private placement by Crescent that extended the combined company's projected cash runway into 2028. As a result, GlycoMimetics no longer exists as an independent operating company, and its commercial destiny — including any future product launches — is determined within the Crescent Biopharma corporate structure.
GlycoMimetics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GlycoMimetics
- Legal name
- Crescent Biopharma, Inc.
- Website
- https://glycomimetics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- GlycoMimetics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2003 in Gaithersburg, Maryland, developing small-molecule glycomimetic therapeutics for cancer. Pre-revenue and acquired by Crescent Biopharma in October 2024.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GlycoMimetics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biopharmaceutical Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Oncology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- CMC & Pharmaceutical Development (Formulation/Process/Analytical Development) (HLAIALAD)
Keywords
Where GlycoMimetics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gaithersburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
GlycoMimetics 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
- Pre-revenue biopharmaceutical: As a clinical-stage biotech company prior to acquisition, GlycoMimetics was focused on developing therapies rather than generating revenue. The company was acquired by Crescent Biopharma in October 2024.
Marketing channels1 record
GlycoMimetics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GlycoMimetics was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that designed and developed small molecule therapeutics to treat various cancers, with a primary focus on solid tumor therapies. As a pre-revenue biotech, the company's core activity was advancing a proprietary pipeline of novel oncology drug candidates through research and clinical development, rather than commercial sales of approved products. The company's assets were acquired by Crescent Biopharma in October 2024.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Solid tumor oncology pipeline (clinical-stage) A pre-revenue, clinical-stage pipeline of small molecule therapeutics developed by GlycoMimetics to treat various cancers with a focus on solid tumors, intended for cancer patients and acquired by Crescent Biopharma in October 2024 for further development.
Companies that use GlycoMimetics
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
GlycoMimetics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
GlycoMimetics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Crescent BiopharmacoreIn October 2024, Crescent Biopharma entered into an acquisition agreement with GlycoMimetics, Inc. The transaction resulted in GlycoMimetics operating under the Crescent name following the close. This strategic acquisition was designed to combine GlycoMimetics' pipeline with Crescent's existing programs to develop therapies for solid tumors.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights3 records
GlycoMimetics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ProfoundBio: Clinical-stage biotech developing next-generation ADCs, including a leading PD-L1 ADC (Rina-S) that directly competes with Crescent's CR-002. ProfoundBio shares the same oncology ADC modality and target class focus.
- Mersana Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing ADCs with proprietary platforms (Dolasynthen, Immunosynthen) targeting oncology indications. Comparable stage and ADC modality focus with differentiated linker/payload technology.
- Pyxis Oncology: Clinical-stage oncology company developing a pipeline of ADCs and immuno-oncology therapeutics. Comparable in stage (clinical), modality (ADCs), and focus on solid tumors with differentiated targets, overlapping Crescent's CR-002 and CR-003 strategy.
- Akeso, Inc. Chinese biotech and originator of ivonescimab (PD-1xVEGF bispecific). Akeso is the developer of the same bispecific technology class that Crescent's CR-001 targets, making them the original innovator and most scientifically comparable peer in this emerging IO modality.
- Black Diamond Therapeutics: Clinical-stage precision oncology biotech developing small molecule therapies against novel allosteric targets. Comparable as a similarly sized, publicly listed oncology biotech with multiple clinical-stage assets and a similar R&D-heavy burn profile.
- Werewolf Therapeutics: Clinical-stage oncology biotech developing INDUKINE conditionally activated therapeutics for solid tumors. Comparable as a similarly sized, venture-backed oncology biotech with a differentiated platform approach and clinical-stage assets.
- Compass Therapeutics: Clinical-stage oncology biotech with a pipeline that includes bispecific antibodies and ADCs. Comparable in stage, modality mix (bispecifics + ADCs), and oncology focus, with similar investor profile and clinical development posture.
- Bolt Biotherapeutics: Clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing immune-stimulating ADCs with proprietary linker technology. Directly comparable as an ADC-focused oncology biotech of similar stage and capital profile to Crescent Biopharma.
- Erasca, Inc. Clinical-stage precision oncology company developing small molecule therapies targeting the RAS/MAPK pathway. Comparable as a venture-backed clinical-stage oncology biotech with multiple programs and similar capital profile.
- Summit Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing ivonescimab, a PD-1xVEGF bispecific antibody, in-licensed from Akeso. Summit is the most direct competitor to Crescent Biopharma's CR-001, both targeting the same PD-1xVEGF mechanism for solid tumors with significant overlap in lead indications.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
GlycoMimetics social profiles
Digital presenceGlycoMimetics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GlycoMimetics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
GlycoMimetics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds10 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GlycoMimetics 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 GlycoMimetics
What does GlycoMimetics do?
GlycoMimetics was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that designed and developed small molecule therapeutics to treat various cancers, with a primary focus on solid tumor therapies. As a pre-revenue biotech, the company's core activity was advancing a proprietary pipeline of novel oncology drug candidates through research and clinical development, rather than commercial sales of approved products. The company's assets were acquired by Crescent Biopharma in October 2024.
Is GlycoMimetics a public or private company?
GlycoMimetics is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was GlycoMimetics founded?
GlycoMimetics was founded in 2024. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is GlycoMimetics based?
GlycoMimetics is headquartered in Gaithersburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does GlycoMimetics make money?
One revenue line is on record: pre-revenue biopharmaceutical.
Who are GlycoMimetics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ProfoundBio, Mersana Therapeutics, Pyxis Oncology, Akeso, Inc., Black Diamond Therapeutics, Werewolf Therapeutics, Compass Therapeutics, Bolt Biotherapeutics, Erasca, Inc. and Summit Therapeutics.
Does GlycoMimetics have an API?
No public API is recorded for GlycoMimetics.
What industry is GlycoMimetics in?
GlycoMimetics's product category is Biopharmaceutical Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIACAA, Oncology Specialty Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of HLAIALAD, CMC & Pharmaceutical Development (Formulation/Process/Analytical Development). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 2834.