Forty Seven
Forty Seven is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company, founded in 2015 in Palo Alto, developing therapies that target cancer immune evasion pathways. It was acquired by and integrated into Gilead Sciences, and as a pre-commercial biotech serves future oncology patients with no marketed products.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersPalo Alto, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Forty Seven does
Forty Seven is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Palo Alto, California, focused on developing therapies that target cancer immune evasion pathways. The company was originally listed on NASDAQ under the ticker FTSV and is now delisted, with URL-path evidence indicating it was acquired by and integrated into Gilead Sciences. Its scientific foundation rests on work by founders Irving L. Weissman, Ravi Majeti, and Jens-Peter Volkmer, leading researchers in CD47-mediated immune evasion biology.
The company raised approximately $156 million across three financing rounds between 2016 and 2019, with top-tier life-sciences investors including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sutter Hill Ventures, Clarus Ventures, Google Ventures, and Wellington Management, alongside a strategic investment from Blood Cancer United. Forty Seven built out its executive bench with the appointment of Mark McCamish as President and CEO and Ann D. Rhoads as CFO, alongside a Chief Patent Counsel, signaling preparation for later-stage clinical development and IP protection of its therapeutic assets. Its end customers are oncology patients, but no commercial products, pricing, or revenue are documented in the available data.
Forty Seven firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Forty Seven
- Legal name
- Gilead Sciences, Inc.
- Website
- https://fortyseveninc.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Forty Seven is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company, founded in 2015 in Palo Alto, developing therapies that target cancer immune evasion pathways. It was acquired by and integrated into Gilead Sciences, and as a pre-commercial biotech serves future oncology patients with no marketed products.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Forty Seven industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Immuno-Oncology Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics (mAbs) (HLAAAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Medical Oncology (HLAKAFAB)
Keywords
Where Forty Seven is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Palo Alto
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Forty Seven business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Forty Seven product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Forty Seven was a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing antibody-based therapies that target cancer immune evasion pathways, principally the CD47 "don't eat me" signaling axis. Its lead work focused on anti-CD47 monoclonal antibodies designed to enable macrophage-mediated elimination of tumor cells in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.
Product overview
Gilead Sciences offers a portfolio of transformative medicines spanning three core therapeutic areas: Virology (HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and Neglected & Emerging Viruses), Oncology, and Inflammation. The company markets 25+ medicines globally and maintains 47 clinical programs across these areas. Key products include antiretroviral therapies for HIV, treatments for viral hepatitis, and cancer therapies such as TRODELVY. Gilead's medicines are delivered through its global commercial operations, with strategic initiatives supporting access in low- and middle-income countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Forty Seven
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Forty Seven technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Forty Seven partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Forty Seven competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Trillium Therapeutics: Clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing CD47-blocking antibodies (SIRPαFc fusion proteins). Most direct mechanistic peer to Forty Seven, also acquired by a large pharma (Pfizer) in 2021.
- ALX Oncology: Clinical-stage oncology company developing evorpacept (ALX-148), a CD47-blocking fusion protein. Closely comparable CD47 mechanism, same hematologic and solid tumor indications, similar development stage.
- Arch Oncology: Clinical-stage biotech developing anti-CD47 antibodies (AO-176). Directly competes with Forty Seven's lead mechanism in immuno-oncology indications.
- I-Mab Biopharma: Clinical-stage China-US biotech developing lemzoparlimab, a differentiated anti-CD47 antibody. Directly comparable CD47 program with parallel development in hematologic malignancies.
- MacroGenics: Clinical-stage oncology company developing multiple therapeutic antibodies including checkpoint-targeted mAbs (e.g., enoblituzumab, margetuximab). Comparable antibody-based immuno-oncology pipeline and similar size/development stage.
- Five Prime Therapeutics: Clinical-stage immuno-oncology biotech (bemarituzumab, cabiralizumab) developing antibody therapeutics targeting cancer immune evasion pathways. Closely comparable scientific focus and was acquired by Amgen in 2021.
Emerging players
- Surface Oncology: Clinical-stage immuno-oncology company focused on next-generation cancer immunotherapies targeting the tumor microenvironment. Comparable therapeutic area and stage though broader mechanism than CD47 alone.
Regional players
- Innovent Biologics: China-based clinical-stage biologics company developing immuno-oncology antibodies including CD47-targeting candidates. Comparable antibody pipeline though primarily serving Asia-Pacific markets.
Broad incumbents
- Gilead Sciences: Large biopharmaceutical company that acquired Forty Seven. Comparable as the parent and commercial vehicle for Forty Seven's CD47 program, and itself an oncology player with Trodelvy and a 47-program clinical pipeline.
- Bristol-Myers Squibb: Large biopharmaceutical company with leading immuno-oncology franchise (PD-1 inhibitor Opdivo) and active CD47 / SIRPα programs. Sets the competitive and partnership benchmark for companies like Forty Seven.
Market position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks3 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Forty Seven social profiles
Digital presenceForty Seven financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Forty Seven leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Forty Seven funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Forty Seven 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 Forty Seven
What does Forty Seven do?
Forty Seven was a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing antibody-based therapies that target cancer immune evasion pathways, principally the CD47 "don't eat me" signaling axis. Its lead work focused on anti-CD47 monoclonal antibodies designed to enable macrophage-mediated elimination of tumor cells in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.
Is Forty Seven a public or private company?
Forty Seven is a public company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Forty Seven founded?
Forty Seven was founded in 1987. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Forty Seven based?
Forty Seven is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Forty Seven's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Trillium Therapeutics, ALX Oncology, Arch Oncology, I-Mab Biopharma, MacroGenics and Five Prime Therapeutics. Surface Oncology is listed as an emerging player. Innovent Biologics is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Gilead Sciences and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Does Forty Seven have an API?
No public API is recorded for Forty Seven.
What industry is Forty Seven in?
Forty Seven's product category is Immuno-Oncology Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAAAA, Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics (mAbs), with a secondary code of HLAKAFAB, Medical Oncology. Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 2836.