Nanocell Therapeutics
Nanocell Therapeutics is a pre-clinical, transatlantic biotechnology company developing a non-viral, DNA-based in vivo gene therapy platform that uses targeted lipid nanoparticles to generate CAR-T cells directly within patients, with lead candidate NCTX-01 targeting B-cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersUtrecht, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Nanocell Therapeutics does
Nanocell Therapeutics is a privately held, transatlantic biotechnology company founded in 2021 and headquartered in Utrecht, Netherlands with US operations in Wayne, Pennsylvania. The company is developing a proprietary non-viral, DNA-based in vivo gene therapy platform (NCtx / tLNP) that uses targeted lipid nanoparticles to co-deliver minicircle DNA encoding CAR constructs and transposase mRNA directly to T cells within the patient's body, enabling stable genomic integration and durable CAR expression without ex vivo cell manipulation. The platform integrates four proprietary technology layers: dual CD7/CD3-targeted lipid nanoparticles, minicircle DNA vectors, RNA transposase for stable integration, and T-cell activation functionality. Its lead clinical candidate, NCTX-01, is a dual-CAR CD19/CD22 in vivo CAR-T therapy targeting B-cell malignancies including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma, with additional programs targeting autoimmune disease.
The company is pre-clinical and pre-revenue, operating with 11-50 employees and a business model dependent on non-dilutive grant funding (EIC Pathfinder €3M in 2023, EIC Transition €2.5M in 2025, Eurostars in 2025) and venture/seed-extension capital from institutional backers including the Institute for Follicular Lymphoma Innovation (IFLI). Its go-to-market model is enterprise-oriented: building strategic co-development partnerships with academic consortia (NANO-ENGINE: Utrecht University, Imperial College London, Karolinska Institutet, SINTEF) and biotech collaborators (OneChain Immunotherapeutics, Shanghai Cell Therapy Group, CPTx), with future commercialization expected through pharmaceutical licensing. Its primary customer segment is patients with B-cell malignancies and autoimmune conditions who face access barriers from current CAR-T therapies priced at approximately $300,000 per patient with complex logistics and chemo-conditioning requirements.
Management includes serial biotech entrepreneur Dr. Maurits Geerlings (CEO; co-founder of NYSE-listed Actinium Pharmaceuticals), Dr. Jacek Lubelski (CTO; former UniQure VP behind Glybera approval), and a Scientific Advisory Board featuring internationally recognized figures including Michael Kalos (Kymriah program) and Prof. Zoltán Ivics (Sleeping Beauty transposon). The company operates with no commercial products, no disclosed revenue, and is positioned for IND-enabling development rather than near-term commercialization.
Nanocell Therapeutics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Nanocell Therapeutics
- Legal name
- NanoCell Therapeutics, Inc.
- Website
- https://nanocelltx.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Nanocell Therapeutics is a pre-clinical, transatlantic biotechnology company developing a non-viral, DNA-based in vivo gene therapy platform that uses targeted lipid nanoparticles to generate CAR-T cells directly within patients, with lead candidate NCTX-01 targeting B-cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Nanocell Therapeutics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- In Vivo Gene Therapy
- 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
- CAR-T & TCR-T Therapies (HLAAABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cell Therapy Enabling Technologies (gene editing, cell engineering, delivery methods) (HLAAABAL), Non-viral Gene Delivery & Gene Therapy (LNP, polymers, electroporation, physical methods) (HLAAACAC), Cell Processing & Ancillary Materials (media, cytokines, beads, vectors, disposables) (HLAAABAH)
Keywords
Where Nanocell Therapeutics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Utrecht
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Nanocell Therapeutics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Grant Funding: Pre-revenue company funded primarily through non-dilutive grants from European Union programs including HORIZON-EIC Pathfinder Challenges, EIC Transition, and Eurostars. These grants support platform development and preclinical programs.
- Venture Capital: Seed-extension financing from The Institute for Follicular Lymphoma Innovation (IFLI) and other institutional investors. Company is venture-backed with locations in US and Netherlands.
- Future Product Revenue: Company is developing in vivo CAR-T therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Revenue expected to come from therapeutic product sales upon regulatory approval.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Nanocell Therapeutics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Nanocell Therapeutics develops a non-viral, DNA-based in vivo gene therapy platform (NanoCellTx/NCtx) that uses targeted lipid nanoparticles (tLNPs) to co-deliver minicircle DNA encoding CAR constructs and transposase mRNA directly to T cells inside the patient's body, enabling in vivo generation of CAR-T cells without ex vivo manipulation. The platform supports lead candidate NCTX-01, a dual-CAR CD19/CD22 therapy for B cell malignancies including DLBCL and follicular lymphoma, with potential applications in autoimmune diseases.
Product overview
NanoCell Therapeutics is a transatlantic biotechnology company developing a non-viral, DNA-based in vivo gene therapy platform (NanoCellTx Platform) primarily targeting oncology and autoimmune diseases. The company's core technology combines cell-targeting lipid nanoparticles (tLNPs) with proprietary minicircle DNA and transposase technologies to enable direct in vivo generation of CAR-T cells within the patient's body. The platform integrates several key components: the NCtx platform for targeted delivery, proprietary minicircle DNA vectors, and RNA transposase for stable genomic integration. Lead clinical candidate NCTX-01 is a dual-CAR CD19/CD22 therapy for B cell malignancies. The company is also advancing CAR.CD22 therapy for DLBCL, with programs targeting hematologic malignancies, solid tumors, and autoimmune diseases. The platform's modular design enables adaptation for multiple therapeutic targets including CAR-T, TCR-T, and CAR-NK approaches.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- NanoCellTx Platform Non-viral, DNA-based in vivo gene therapy platform employing cell-targeting lipid nanoparticles (tLNPs) enriched with proprietary DNA and RNA-transposase technologies. Enables safe and precise modification of target cells within the patient's body, converting adoptive cell therapies into in vivo gene therapies for pharmaceutical partners and academic collaborators.
- NCTX-01 NanoCell's lead clinical candidate, a dual-CAR CD19/CD22 in vivo CAR-T therapy targeting B cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma. The first in vivo CAR-T therapy candidate advancing toward IND application via single intravenous administration.
- CAR.CD22 Therapy In vivo CAR-T therapy candidate targeting CD22 for Diffuse Large Cell B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), part of NanoCell's initial development activities. Developed in collaboration with OneChain Immunotherapeutics, combining OneChain's CD22 CAR technology with NanoCell's non-viral DNA-based in vivo CAR-T platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- Demonstrated robust CAR-T cell generation in multiple humanized mouse models with effective tumor control and significantly extended survival at doses as low as 4 µg/kg
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Nanocell Therapeutics
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Nanocell Therapeutics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Nanocell Therapeutics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.
- CPTxcoreCollaboration as part of Eurostars Grant for QUIET-CAR project. CPTx is developing advanced medicine using AI-supported molecular design and programmable single-stranded DNA fabrication supported by gxstrands.
- Shanghai Cell Therapy Group (SHCell)secondaryCollaboration for development of dual-CAR construct targeting CD19 and CD22, used in preclinical studies published in Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer demonstrating first-in-class non-viral DNA-based in vivo CAR-T generation.
- OneChain Immunotherapeutics S.L.coreStrategic collaboration to develop novel in vivo CAR-T therapy targeting B-cell lymphomas. OneChain contributes its proprietary CD22 CAR technology while NanoCell provides its non-viral DNA-based in vivo CAR-T platform. The partnership combines OneChain's CD22 CAR molecule (developed by Prof. Pablo Menendez at Josep Carreras Institute) with NanoCell's innovative delivery technology.
- Utrecht UniversitycorePart of NANO-ENGINE consortium awarded HORIZON-EIC Pathfinder Challenges Grant. Utrecht University's Pharmaceutical Sciences division contributes proficiency in nanomedicine chemistry and drug delivery systems expertise.
- Imperial College LondoncorePart of NANO-ENGINE consortium. ICL has pioneered a groundbreaking single particle analysis method for drug product characterization, contributing to the consortium's analytical capabilities.
- Karolinska InstitutetcorePart of NANO-ENGINE consortium. KI provides expertise in implementing single particle analysis methods and contributes to the consortium's research capabilities.
- SINTEFcorePart of NANO-ENGINE consortium. SINTEF contributes essential knowledge in bulk analysis of drug products and plays a vital role in establishing regulatory standards for nucleic acid therapeutics.
- University Medical Center UtrechtcoreResearch collaboration for preclinical studies demonstrating NCtx platform technology. Dr. Raymond Schiffelers serves as VP Preclinical R&D at NanoCell while also holding position as Professor of Nanomedicine at UMCU and head of research at Central Diagnostic Laboratory.
- CatalyzeminorAmsterdam-based Catalyze provided grant preparation support for successful Eurostars Grant application.
- ICR HealthcareminorICR Healthcare serves as media relations and investor relations contact for NanoCell Therapeutics, handling press inquiries and investor communications.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Nanocell Therapeutics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cabaletta Bio: Cabaletta is advancing CAR-T therapies targeting B-cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases with CD19-directed approaches, sharing NanoCell's therapeutic focus on B-cell lymphomas and autoimmune indications.
- Capstan Therapeutics: Capstan is developing in vivo CAR-T therapies using lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery of mRNA, the closest direct competitor to NanoCell's NCtx platform with overlapping technology and target indications.
- Umoja Biopharma: Umoja is developing in vivo CAR-T cell therapies using its VivoVec platform for direct T-cell reprogramming, pursuing similar hematologic cancer indications with an in vivo gene delivery approach comparable to NanoCell's.
- Caribou Biosciences: Caribou develops allogeneic CAR-T cell therapies using CRISPR gene editing for hematologic cancers and autoimmune diseases, representing a competing next-generation CAR-T platform approach in similar indications.
- Precision BioSciences: Precision develops in vivo gene editing and CAR-T therapies using its ARCUS platform, including allogeneic CAR-T candidates for B-cell lymphomas, directly comparable to NanoCell's CD19/CD22 dual-CAR approach.
Broad incumbents
- Allogene Therapeutics: Allogene is a clinical-stage leader in allogeneic CAR-T therapies with multiple CD19 and BCMA programs, representing the established off-the-shelf CAR-T paradigm that NanoCell's in vivo approach aims to disrupt.
- Intellia Therapeutics: Intellia is a leading in vivo CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing company using LNP delivery for both genetic disease and oncology applications, sharing NanoCell's in vivo LNP-based therapeutic modality though with gene editing rather than CAR-T payloads.
- Beam Therapeutics: Beam is a clinical-stage base editing company pursuing in vivo gene editing using LNP delivery for hematologic and genetic diseases, comparable as a broader in vivo gene therapy platform using similar nanoparticle delivery technology.
- Editas Medicine: Editas is a clinical-stage gene editing company developing in vivo and ex vivo CRISPR-based therapies, with SAB member Charles Albright (former CSO) bridging Editas expertise to NanoCell's in vivo delivery platform.
Emerging players
- Arcturus Therapeutics: Arcturus develops lipid nanoparticle-mediated RNA therapeutics including mRNA and gene editing payloads for rare diseases and oncology, sharing NanoCell's LNP delivery modality though focused on RNA payloads rather than DNA-based integration.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Nanocell Therapeutics social profiles
Digital presenceNanocell Therapeutics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Nanocell Therapeutics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Nanocell Therapeutics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Nanocell 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 Nanocell Therapeutics
What does Nanocell Therapeutics do?
Nanocell Therapeutics develops a non-viral, DNA-based in vivo gene therapy platform (NanoCellTx/NCtx) that uses targeted lipid nanoparticles (tLNPs) to co-deliver minicircle DNA encoding CAR constructs and transposase mRNA directly to T cells inside the patient's body, enabling in vivo generation of CAR-T cells without ex vivo manipulation. The platform supports lead candidate NCTX-01, a dual-CAR CD19/CD22 therapy for B cell malignancies including DLBCL and follicular lymphoma, with potential applications in autoimmune diseases.
Is Nanocell Therapeutics a public or private company?
Nanocell Therapeutics is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Nanocell Therapeutics founded?
Nanocell Therapeutics was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Nanocell Therapeutics based?
Nanocell Therapeutics is headquartered in Utrecht, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Nanocell Therapeutics make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Grant Funding is the primary driver. The others are venture Capital and future Product Revenue.
Who are Nanocell Therapeutics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cabaletta Bio, Capstan Therapeutics, Umoja Biopharma, Caribou Biosciences and Precision BioSciences. Broad incumbents are Allogene Therapeutics, Intellia Therapeutics, Beam Therapeutics and Editas Medicine. Arcturus Therapeutics is listed as an emerging player.
Does Nanocell Therapeutics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Nanocell Therapeutics.
What industry is Nanocell Therapeutics in?
Nanocell Therapeutics's product category is In Vivo Gene Therapy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAABAC, CAR-T & TCR-T Therapies, with a secondary code of HLAAABAL, Cell Therapy Enabling Technologies (gene editing, cell engineering, delivery methods). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 2836.