CRISM Therapeutics

What CRISM Therapeutics does

CRISM Therapeutics Corporation (LSE: CRTX) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops ChemoSeed, a proprietary bioresorbable drug delivery platform for the localised, sustained release of chemotherapy directly into cancer tissue. ChemoSeed implants are 6mm x 2mm cylinders made from polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) polymer, designed to deliver one to four drugs over 7 to 35 days and to fully biodegrade within 3-6 months. The lead programme is irinotecan-ChemoSeed for surgically resectable glioblastoma, currently entering a registration-grade Phase 2 trial; a second programme, docetaxel-ChemoSeed for prostate cancer, is in preclinical development with grant support through March 2027. Pipeline indications also include pancreatic, bladder and breast cancer, and the company offers formulation services (solubility enhancement, hot-melt extrusion, scale-up, regulatory support) to pharmaceutical partners using modified PLGA/EVA extrusion, injection moulding and 3D printing capabilities. CRISM is incorporated in the British Virgin Islands with operations in Birmingham and Londonderry, UK, was admitted to AIM in May 2024, and is pre-revenue. It holds an MHRA Innovation Passport (August 2024) and FDA Orphan Drug Designation (March 2026) for irinotecan-ChemoSeed. The business model contemplates three revenue streams: direct sales of ChemoSeed implants to UK and EU hospitals following regulatory approval, out-licensing of the platform to pharmaceutical partners for additional indications and territories, and contract formulation services. Manufacturing is outsourced to ProMed Pharma, a US-based cGMP CDMO with ISO 13485:2016 processes, while clinical operations are run with the Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit, Venn Life Sciences and Aixial Group.

Name

CRISM Therapeutics

Legal name

CRISM Therapeutics Corporation

Website

https://crismtherapeutics.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CRISM Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing ChemoSeed, a bioresorbable PLGA implant for sustained, localised chemotherapy delivery directly into cancer tissue, with its lead programme targeting glioblastoma and additional programmes in prostate and other solid tumours.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tórtola

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Out-licensing ChemoSeed Technology: License ChemoSeed platform technology to pharmaceutical partners for development and commercialization in various cancer indications. Revenue from upfront payments, milestone payments, and royalties on sales.
2. Direct Product Sales: Direct sales of ChemoSeed implants to hospitals and neuro-oncology centers for glioblastoma treatment following regulatory approval. Initial focus on UK and EU markets with orphan drug designation.
3. Formulation Services: Monetize drug formulation expertise through service contracts with pharmaceutical companies. Services include solubility enhancement, hot-melt extrusion, scale-up, and regulatory support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CRISM Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company that develops ChemoSeed, a biodegradable implantable drug delivery platform using PLGA (poly lactic-co-glycolic acid) polymer cylinders that deliver sustained-release chemotherapy directly into cancer tissue or resection margins. The lead candidate, irinotecan-ChemoSeed, is being advanced into a registration-grade Phase 2 trial for surgically resectable glioblastoma, with a docetaxel-ChemoSeed prostate cancer programme also in development. The company additionally offers contract Formulation Services using hot-melt extrusion, injection moulding and 3D printing to develop personalised drug-polymer implants for pharmaceutical partners.

Product overview

CRISM Therapeutics offers a unified product-platform architecture centered on ChemoSeed, a proprietary bioresorbable implantable drug delivery technology for localized chemotherapy delivery in solid tumors. The ChemoSeed platform is complemented by Formulation Services that leverage modified hot-melt extrusion, injection molding, and 3D printing capabilities to develop drug-polymer combinations. The company is initially targeting glioblastoma with irinotecan-ChemoSeed in Phase 2 trials, while also developing docetaxel-ChemoSeed for prostate cancer, with additional pipeline indications for pancreatic, bladder, and breast cancers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ChemoSeed (irinotecan-ChemoSeed lead candidate) Bioresorbable, multilayered PLGA-polymer implantable drug delivery system (6mm x 2mm cylinders) that provides sustained-release chemotherapy directly into cancer tissue or resection margins for 7–35 days, with capacity to co-deliver up to four drugs at different release rates. Lead candidate irinotecan-ChemoSeed is being advanced into a registration-grade Phase 2 trial for surgically resectable glioblastoma, with additional applications being developed for prostate, pancreatic, bladder and breast cancer.
• Formulation Services Contract drug formulation and development services using modified hot-melt extrusion techniques to incorporate drugs into biodegradable polymers (PLGA, EVA), including solubility enhancement, local drug delivery development, personalised implantable treatments via 3D printing, and scale-up support through to clinical trials and registration. Provided to pharmaceutical companies seeking support for novel drug delivery and sustained-release formulations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% survival rate at day 148 in preclinical glioblastoma mouse model vs 0% for standard treatments
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• University of BirminghamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative R&D partnership with University of Birmingham. CRISM permitted to use university laboratories under contract terms. CSO Professor Chris McConville maintains academic affiliation. Company retains ownership of all foreground IP generated.
• Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit (BCTU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCTU oversees management of ChemoSeed within the Tessa Jowell BRAIN MATRIX (TJBM) clinical trial platform as a phase II registration grade clinical trial. BCTU has established track record in brain tumour clinical trials and infrastructure for patient recruitment.
• Venn Life SciencescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContract with Venn Life Sciences (part of hVIVO plc group) to assist with Clinical Trial Authorisation (CTA) submission and regulatory support. Venn experienced in bringing orphan drug and oncology technologies through regulatory approval.
• ProMed Pharma LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationUS-based contract manufacturer (CDMO) for ChemoSeed manufacturing. Has cGMP hot melt extrusion capabilities and facilities for highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Manufactured first clinical batch for Phase 2 trial.
• Aixial GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContract research organization (CRO) with expertise in brain tumour studies. Supporting preparation and submission of CTA and managing Phase 2 clinical trial operations including site activation.
• Buchanan PRcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial PR and investor relations adviser. Manages shareholder communications, investor events, media enquiries, and regulatory announcements.
• Westend CorporatesupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSpecialist financial consultancy providing outsourced financial administration and reporting services for smaller quoted companies. Supports CEO with financial management and reporting.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Novocure: Develops Tumor Treating Fields (Optune), a localised, device-based therapy for glioblastoma. While the modality is different, Novocure competes head-to-head with ChemoSeed for the same newly diagnosed and recurrent GBM patient population and shares the same hospital/neuro-oncology channel.
• Nanobiotix: Develops NBTXR3 (Hensify), a radioenhancer nanoparticle injected intratumourally to amplify the effect of radiotherapy in solid tumours. Like ChemoSeed, it is a locally administered, locally active oncology platform rather than a systemic therapy.
• Delcath Systems: Commercialises Hepzato/CHEMOSAT, a percutaneous hepatic perfusion system that delivers high-dose melphalan directly to the liver. Closely analogous to ChemoSeed's concept of regional/local high-dose chemotherapy to bypass systemic toxicity.
• Eisai: Markets Gliadel, a carmustine-loaded biodegradable wafer implanted into the resection cavity during GBM surgery. Gliadel is the most direct commercial analogue to ChemoSeed, combining a chemotherapy with a localised, biodegradable polymeric implant in the same indication.
• Plus Therapeutics: Clinical-stage company developing Rhenium-186 NanoLiposome (186RNL), a locally delivered radiotherapeutic for recurrent glioblastoma and other CNS cancers. Shares ChemoSeed's intratumoural/local delivery approach to brain cancer.
• Sirtex Medical: Markets SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres, a locally delivered radioembolisation therapy for liver tumours. Sirtex validates the commercial model of a hospital-administered, locally delivered oncology product with premium per-procedure pricing, comparable to CRISM's targeted ChemoSeed reimbursement model.
• TME Pharma: Develops NOX-A12 and other locally delivered agents targeting the tumour microenvironment in glioblastoma. TME Pharma is one of the few clinical-stage peers pursuing a localised, non-systemic treatment paradigm in newly diagnosed and recurrent GBM, conceptually adjacent to ChemoSeed.

Emerging players

• Medicenna Therapeutics: Develops MDNA55, an IL-4 receptor-targeted fusion toxin administered via convection-enhanced delivery into recurrent GBM tumours. Competes with ChemoSeed in the locally delivered, targeted GBM treatment space.
• Istari Oncology: Clinical-stage company developing PVS-RIPO, a recombinant polio virus therapy delivered intratumourally for recurrent glioblastoma. Shares ChemoSeed's intratumoural, hospital-administered treatment paradigm in GBM.
• Candel Therapeutics: Clinical-stage developer of CAN-2409, a locally injected gene-mediated immunotherapy for high-grade glioma and prostate cancer. Overlaps with ChemoSeed in the targeted, intratumoural treatment of GBM and in the broader localised immunotherapy concept.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crism-therapeutics

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about CRISM Therapeutics