Leukos Biotech
Leukos Biotech is a Barcelona-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical spin-off developing first-in-class HTR1B antagonist oncology drugs (lead asset AOP208 in Phase 1) and companion diagnostic antibodies, targeting cancer stem cells in leukemia and solid tumors, with global development licensed to AOP Health.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersBarcelona, Spain
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Leukos Biotech does
Leukos Biotech, S.L. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, founded in 2015 as a spin-off of the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute. The company develops first-in-class therapeutics and companion diagnostics built on the serotonin receptor 1B (HTR1B) as a novel oncology target. Its lead asset AOP208 (formerly LB208) is an orally available, highly selective HTR1B antagonist that induces apoptosis and terminal differentiation in cancer stem cells while sparing healthy cells; the drug entered a Phase 1 trial (SERONCO-1) at VHIO in October 2024, with first patient dosed the same month. A secondary asset, LK-01 — a subcutaneous apomorphine formulation for Acute Myeloid Leukemia — received US FDA Orphan Drug Designation in June 2018. The company also holds proprietary monoclonal antibodies validated as biomarkers for HTR1B-based cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and patient stratification.
The underlying platform is anchored in research by co-founder and CSO Dr. Ruth M. Risueño, whose identification of HTR1B as a therapeutic target in leukemia was published in Nature's Leukemia journal in 2017 and patented. The pipeline spans hematological malignancies (AML, MDS) and selected solid tumors including triple-negative breast cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and ovarian cancer. Commercial development of AOP208 is led by Austrian partner AOP Health under a July 2022 licensing agreement, with Leukos retaining development and commercialization rights in certain territories.
Leukos Biotech's business model is licensing- and royalty-oriented: future commercial revenue is expected to flow from milestone payments and royalties under the AOP Health agreement, with current cash sourced primarily from public grants (CDTI, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Generalitat de Catalunya, ACCIÓ, EU Horizon 2020, ENISA) supplemented by venture equity from Inveready and CDTI Innvierte. The company had raised approximately €3.5M in seed funding by September 2016, runs a 1–10 employee operation, has no commercial product revenue, and operates a single Phase 1 program alongside preclinical biomarker and LK-01 development work.
Leukos Biotech firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Leukos Biotech
- Legal name
- Leukos Biotech, S. L.
- Website
- https://leukosbiotech.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Leukos Biotech is a Barcelona-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical spin-off developing first-in-class HTR1B antagonist oncology drugs (lead asset AOP208 in Phase 1) and companion diagnostic antibodies, targeting cancer stem cells in leukemia and solid tumors, with global development licensed to AOP Health.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Leukos Biotech industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Oncology Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Oncology & Hematology Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Target Identification & Validation Platforms (omics-driven, chemoproteomics, genetic validation) (HLAAAIAI)
Keywords
Where Leukos Biotech is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Barcelona
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Leukos Biotech 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
- Licensing and Royalty Revenues: Leukos Biotech generates revenue through licensing agreements with pharmaceutical partners. The company licensed LB208 to AOP Health, which committed to develop and commercialize the compound. Leukos retains development and commercialization rights in certain territories and receives milestone payments and royalties from the partnership.
- Grant Funding: The company has received public funding from multiple sources including CDTI, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Generalitat de Catalunya, ACCIÓ, European Union Horizon 2020 (SeroStrat project), and ENISA. Funding includes both grants and loans.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Leukos Biotech product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Leukos Biotech develops first-in-class HTR1B (serotonin receptor 1B) antagonist drug candidates, with its lead compound LB208/AOP208 designed to target cancer stem cells and chemotherapy-resistant cells across hematological malignancies (AML, MDS) and solid tumors (TNBC, HCC, ovarian cancer). The company also develops proprietary monoclonal antibody biomarkers for patient stratification and a novel apomorphine formulation (LK-01) for Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Product overview
Leukos Biotech is a biopharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of cancer therapeutics and diagnostic tools centered on the serotonin receptor 1B (HTR1B) target. The core product is LB208/AOP208, a first-in-class oral HTR1B antagonist with applications in both solid tumors and hematological malignancies. The company also developed LK-01, an Apomorphine-based formulation that received FDA Orphan Drug Designation for AML, and proprietary monoclonal antibodies (mABs) serving as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. All products are grounded in research from the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- LB208 / AOP208 First-in-class, orally available, highly selective HTR1B (serotonin receptor 1B) antagonist drug candidate designed to treat hematological malignancies (Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndrome) and solid tumors (Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Ovarian Cancer) by targeting cancer stem cells and chemotherapy-resistant cells, inducing apoptosis and terminal differentiation while sparing healthy cells.
- LK-01 (Apomorphine formulation) Novel solid form of apomorphine administered as a subcutaneous injection that maintains clinically relevant plasma concentrations for several days; in development for the treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia and granted FDA Orphan Drug Designation.
- Proprietary HTR1B monoclonal antibody (mAB) biomarkers
Quantifiable outcome
- FDA Orphan Drug Designation granted for LK-01 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Leukos Biotech
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Leukos Biotech technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Leukos Biotech partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- AOP HealthcorePartnership established in July 2022 for further development of Leukos Biotech's lead candidate LB208 (renamed AOP208). AOP Health, an Austrian pharmaceutical company specializing in rare diseases and critical care, leads and finances global clinical development. Leukos maintains development and commercialization rights in certain territories. Initial focus on hematology/oncology with potential to expand to other indications.
- Hemex AGsupportingSwiss consulting company specializing in collaborations with start-ups and spin-offs. Provides regulatory strategy support for LK-01 US FDA regulatory activities, particularly for the Orphan Drug Designation program.
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC)coreLeukos Biotech is a spin-off from the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, established in 2015. The company holds a license from IJC covering proprietary use of drugs and antibodies developed by Dr. Risueño's team. IJC provides ongoing research support and access to scientific expertise.
- VHIO (Vall d'Hebron Instituto de Oncología)coreClinical trial partner in the consortium receiving €1.4M public funding. VHIO's UITM-CaixaResearch unit is conducting the SERONCO-1 Phase 1 clinical trial for AOP208. Dr. Irene Braña leads the trial at this single participating center.
- LeitatsupportingConsortium partner in the €1.4M public-private collaboration project. Leitat, a technology center in Catalonia, participates as a recipient of grant funding (as opposed to Leukos which receives a loan) for the project focused on advancing LB208 in precision oncology.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Leukos Biotech competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Geron Corporation: Geron is a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on hematologic malignancies, with approved drug Rytavels (imetelstat) for lower-risk MDS. Comparable emerging player developing oncology therapeutics targeting specific cancer cell biology (telomerase), with overlap in heme-malignancy focus.
- Constellation Pharmaceuticals: Constellation Pharmaceuticals (acquired by MorphoSys in 2021) was a clinical-stage oncology company developing small molecule inhibitors of epigenetic regulators for heme malignancies and solid tumors. Comparable emerging player in small-molecule precision oncology for hematology indications.
- Forma Therapeutics: Forma Therapeutics (acquired by Novo Nordisk in 2022) was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing small molecule therapeutics for rare hematologic diseases and cancers, including sickle cell disease and AML. Highly comparable emerging player in hematology-focused small-molecule drug development.
- MacroGenics: MacroGenics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics for cancer, with multiple oncology programs including MARGENZA. Adjacent emerging player developing innovative oncology biologics, paralleling Leukos's mAb biomarker-based approach.
Direct peers
- Kura Oncology: Kura Oncology is a clinical-stage precision oncology company developing small molecule inhibitors for hematological malignancies (including AML with menin inhibitors) and solid tumors. Direct comparable to Leukos as a small-molecule heme-malignancy focused biotech at similar development stage.
- Agios Pharmaceuticals: Agios is a biopharmaceutical company focused on cellular metabolism and hematology/oncology therapeutics, with approved AML drug Tibsovo and a pipeline targeting MDS and rare hematologic disorders. Highly comparable commercial-stage adjacent peer in AML/MDS drug development.
- Aprea Therapeutics: Aprea Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class small molecule therapeutics targeting the p53 pathway for hematological malignancies (MDS/AML). Compares directly to Leukos as a similarly sized, similarly staged oncology biotech pursuing a novel mechanism in AML/MDS with strategic licensing potential.
Regional players
- Ryvu Therapeutics: Ryvu Therapeutics is a Polish clinical-stage oncology biotech developing small molecule therapies in hematology and solid tumors. Comparable European regional peer for Leukos in early-stage small-molecule oncology drug discovery and development.
Broad incumbents
- Incyte Corporation: Incyte is a larger biopharmaceutical company with a strong oncology and hematology portfolio (Jakafi, Pemazyre, Opzelura) and a clinical pipeline addressing MDS, AML, and graft-versus-host disease. Broad incumbent in the same hematology/oncology competitive space where Leukos intends to position LB208/AOP208.
- AOP Health: AOP Health (AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals) is an established Austrian specialty pharma company in rare diseases, critical care, and hematology/oncology. It is Leukos's licensing partner for LB208/AOP208 and a broader incumbent in the same therapeutic areas that comparably commercializes hematology/oncology drugs in Europe.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Leukos Biotech social profiles
Digital presenceLeukos Biotech compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Leukos Biotech financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Leukos Biotech leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Leukos Biotech funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Leukos Biotech 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 Leukos Biotech
What does Leukos Biotech do?
Leukos Biotech develops first-in-class HTR1B (serotonin receptor 1B) antagonist drug candidates, with its lead compound LB208/AOP208 designed to target cancer stem cells and chemotherapy-resistant cells across hematological malignancies (AML, MDS) and solid tumors (TNBC, HCC, ovarian cancer). The company also develops proprietary monoclonal antibody biomarkers for patient stratification and a novel apomorphine formulation (LK-01) for Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Is Leukos Biotech a public or private company?
Leukos Biotech is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Leukos Biotech founded?
Leukos Biotech was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Leukos Biotech based?
Leukos Biotech is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does Leukos Biotech make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Licensing and Royalty Revenues are the primary driver. The others are grant Funding.
Who are Leukos Biotech's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Geron Corporation, Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Forma Therapeutics and MacroGenics. Direct peers are Kura Oncology, Agios Pharmaceuticals and Aprea Therapeutics. Ryvu Therapeutics is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Incyte Corporation and AOP Health.
Does Leukos Biotech have an API?
No public API is recorded for Leukos Biotech.
What industry is Leukos Biotech in?
Leukos Biotech's product category is Oncology Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAAAC, Oncology & Hematology Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of HLAAAIAI, Target Identification & Validation Platforms (omics-driven, chemoproteomics, genetic validation). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 2834.