Sidewinder Therapeutics

What Sidewinder Therapeutics does

Sidewinder Therapeutics is a San Diego-based, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2023 that develops next-generation bispecific antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for solid tumors. The company's core technology engineers bispecific antibodies to target receptor co-complexes — combinations of an oncogenic driver receptor and an internalizing receptor — that are highly expressed on certain solid tumors, with the stated goal of enhancing tumor cell specificity and internalization to expand the therapeutic window for difficult-to-treat cancers. The pipeline currently consists of three preclinical bispecific ADC candidates: SWT012 (lead asset, targeting bladder cancer with IND filing planned for end of 2026), SWT019 (lung cancer, IND planned H1 2027), and SWT020 (colorectal cancer, IND planned H1 2027), with first-in-human clinical trials expected in 2027. Sidewinder augments its internal antibody discovery with a multi-target license to Lonza's Synaffix site-specific ADC technology platform, including GlycoConnect antibody conjugation, HydraSpace polar spacer, and toxSYN linker-payload technologies.

The company is pre-revenue with no commercialized products, and its business model is structured around future pharmaceutical product sales following regulatory approval. Near-term, revenue mechanics consist entirely of capital deployment from venture financing into R&D; total funding raised is $162 million across a 2023 Series A from OrbiMed and an April 2026 $137 million Series B co-led by Frazier Life Sciences and Novartis Venture Fund, with additional participation from Goldman Sachs Alternatives, DCVC Bio, Samsara BioCapital, Longwood Fund, Astellas Venture Management, and Alexandria Venture Investments. The go-to-market approach is enterprise in nature — traditional pharmaceutical commercialization channels (specialty distribution, hospital systems, pharmacy) will be pursued post-approval, while current activity focuses on advancing candidates through IND-enabling studies and clinical development. The leadership team is led by serial biotech entrepreneur Eric Murphy (co-founder and CEO, previously co-founded Kinnate Biopharma and Alterome Therapeutics) and CMO Patrick Zweidler-McKay, who led 12 ADC programs at ImmunoGen including the approved drug Elahere.

Customers and end markets are oncology patients with solid tumor indications where treatment options are limited — principally bladder, lung, colorectal, and squamous cell carcinomas (including head and neck). Headcount remains small (1-10 employees), consistent with a preclinical-stage organization, and the company is headquartered at 9880 Campus Point Drive in San Diego, California.

Name

Sidewinder Therapeutics

Legal name

Sidewinder Therapeutics, Inc.

Website

https://sidewinderbio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sidewinder Therapeutics is a San Diego-based, preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2023 that develops bispecific antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting solid tumors, with three programs (SWT012 bladder, SWT019 lung, SWT020 colorectal) advancing toward IND filings in 2026-2027.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bispecific Antibody-Drug Conjugates (Oncology Therapeutics)

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) & Antibody Conjugates (HLAAAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bispecific & Multispecific Antibodies (HLAAAAAF), Antibody Discovery & Engineering Platforms (display tech, bispecifics, Fc engineering) (HLAAAIAB)

Keywords

• Bispecific antibody-drug conjugates
• Oncology drug development
• Solid tumor therapeutics
• Precision biologics
• ADC platform

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

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, Supply Chain, Operations

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Product Sales: As a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel bispecific ADC therapeutics, Sidewinder's primary revenue model will be through commercialization of approved cancer treatments. The company is currently pre-revenue with all programs in preclinical/clinical development stage. Upon regulatory approval, the company will generate revenue from product sales targeting oncology indications including squamous cell carcinomas, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and bladder cancer.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Sidewinder Therapeutics develops a pipeline of next-generation bispecific antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) engineered from internally discovered antibody sequences to target receptor co-complexes highly expressed on solid tumors. The pipeline comprises three candidates — SWT012 (lead, bladder cancer), SWT019 (lung cancer), and SWT020 (colorectal cancer) — built on the company\u2019s bispecific targeting platform combined with the Lonza/Synaffix-licensed GlycoConnect, HydraSpace, and toxSYN site-specific linker-payload technologies. The company is preclinical-stage and not yet generating product revenue.

Product overview

Sidewinder Therapeutics is developing a pipeline of next-generation bispecific antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) designed to expand the therapeutic window by targeting tumor-specific receptor co-complexes. The portfolio includes lead asset SWT012 (bladder cancer, IND planned end 2026), SWT019 (lung cancer), and SWT020 (colorectal cancer), with both SWT019 and SWT020 targeted for IND submissions in first half of 2027. The company leverages Lonza's Synaffix site-specific linker-payload platform for ADC development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SWT012 Lead bispecific ADC drug candidate from Sidewinder's pipeline, engineered to target receptor co-complexes highly expressed on solid tumors, with initial development focus on bladder cancer (and related squamous cell carcinomas/gastrointestinal cancers). Planned IND filing at end of 2026.
• SWT019 Bispecific ADC drug candidate from Sidewinder's pipeline targeting lung cancer. IND submission planned for the first half of 2027.
• SWT020 Bispecific ADC drug candidate from Sidewinder's pipeline targeting colorectal cancer. IND submission planned for the first half of 2027.
• Bispecific ADC Pipeline (targeting platform) Sidewinder's proprietary bispecific antibody-drug conjugate platform that engineers bispecific antibodies targeting receptor co-complexes (oncogenic driver + internalizing receptor combinations) highly expressed on certain solid tumors, combined with the Lonza/Synaffix-licensed GlycoConnect, HydraSpace, and toxSYN site-specific linker-payload technologies. The platform underpins the company's three named drug candidates (SWT012, SWT019, SWT020).

Quantifiable outcome

• IND filing for lead asset SWT012 planned for end of 2026; IND filings for SWT019 and SWT020 planned for first half of 2027; clinical development expected to begin in 2027.
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Lonza (Synaffix)coreTechnology or Integration · 6 January 2026Multi-target licensing agreement granting Sidewinder access to Lonza's clinically validated, site-specific ADC technology platform including GlycoConnect antibody conjugation technology, HydraSpace polar spacer technology, and toxSYN linker payload technologies. Under terms, Lonza is eligible to receive upfront, clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments plus royalties on net sales. Lonza is responsible for manufacturing components related to its proprietary technologies while Sidewinder is responsible for research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of the resulting bispecific ADC therapeutics.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AstraZeneca: Global pharma co-developer and commercializer of Enhertu and Datroway (with Daiichi Sankyo), and active acquirer of ADC platforms. Comparable as a large incumbent defining the competitive landscape for bispecific/next-gen ADCs and a likely strategic acquirer of clinical-stage ADC assets.
• ImmunoGen: Pioneer in ADC development with approved drug Elahere (mirvetuximab), acquired by AbbVie in 2024. Directly comparable to Sidewinder in therapeutic modality and indication overlap (solid tumor ADCs), and represents the type of strategic exit Sidewinder could pursue; Sidewinder's CMO trained here.
• Seagen (Pfizer): ADC pioneer (Adcetris, Padcev, Tukysa, Tivdak) acquired by Pfizer in 2023. Comparable to Sidewinder as a leading ADC-focused organization in solid tumor oncology, and a relevant strategic acquirer for emerging ADC assets in the space.
• Daiichi Sankyo: Japanese pharma company behind the DXd ADC platform commercialized with AstraZeneca as Enhertu and Datroway. Comparable as the dominant incumbent in next-generation solid tumor ADCs against which any bispecific ADC competitor must differentiate.

Emerging players

• MacroGenics: Clinical-stage biotech developing bispecific antibodies and antibody-based therapeutics for cancer, including DART and TRIDENT platforms. Comparable to Sidewinder in bispecific antibody engineering for oncology, though more focused on naked bispecifics than ADC-payload conjugation.
• Genmab: Biotech specializing in antibody therapeutics, with proprietary bispecific platforms (DuoBody, HexaBody) and a pipeline including ADC-adjacent programs. Comparable to Sidewinder in bispecific antibody engineering expertise and partnership-heavy commercial model.

Direct peers

• Pyxis Oncology: Clinical-stage biotech developing antibody-drug conjugates and immunotherapies for difficult-to-treat solid tumors. Comparable to Sidewinder in therapeutic modality (ADCs for solid tumors) and stage, with internal ADC platform and similar oncology indication focus.
• ProfoundBio: Clinical-stage ADC company developing next-generation antibody-drug conjugates for solid tumors, including bispecific formats. Comparable to Sidewinder in modality, stage profile, and focus on solid tumor ADC innovation.
• Bolt Biotherapeutics: Clinical-stage developer of immune-stimulating antibody-drug conjugates (ISACs), a related bispecific-adjacent ADC modality. Comparable to Sidewinder as a small, well-funded preclinical/early-clinical ADC company targeting solid tumors with a proprietary payload-conjugation strategy.
• Mersana Therapeutics: Clinical-stage oncology company developing antibody-drug conjugates, including next-generation ADC platforms targeting solid tumors. Closely comparable to Sidewinder as a clinical-stage ADC developer with proprietary conjugation chemistry and a pipeline of solid-tumor ADCs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sidewinder-therapeutics-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors9 records

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Sidewinder Therapeutics