VRise Therapeutics Inc.

What VRise Therapeutics Inc. does

VRise Therapeutics Inc. is a privately held precision oncology company, founded in 2021 and headquartered in Cambridge, MA, with global R&D operations spanning the United States, the United Kingdom, and India (via wholly-owned subsidiary VeGen Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd. in Hyderabad). The company targets pathways that drive cancer growth, proliferation, and differentiation, with a particular focus on RAS family mutations — historically considered undruggable — and the DNA Damage Response (DDR) pathway. Its pipeline includes VRTX126, a KRAS-G12C small molecule inhibitor at IND-Tox ready stage for colorectal cancer and NSCLC; VRTX153, a KRAS-G12D inhibitor in optimization for pancreatic cancer; a DDR/USP1 inhibitor (VRTX531); and broader KRAS programs (G12V, R, S) that incorporate a PROTAC-based protein degradation approach. The company also secured an exclusive India license for KQ-2003, a dual-targeted CAR-T cell therapy, in September 2025, signaling expansion beyond small molecules into cell therapy.

Underlying the pipeline is a proprietary discovery engine that combines computational chemistry (CADD), medicinal chemistry, and biomarker-driven target selection with companion diagnostics built into development to de-risk and accelerate progression. The company's scientific credibility is reinforced by a Scientific Advisory Board including Dr. Anthony W. Tolcher, Dr. Colin Weekes, Dr. Darren Tyson, Dr. Junji Furuse, and Dr. Francesco Bertoni, and by founders Prashant K. Bhavar and Uday Kumar S., both of whom were previously involved in the discovery and USFDA approval of Umbralisib (Ukoniq) at Rhizen, with Bhavar credited on out-licensing deals worth approximately USD ~750 million.

VRise is a pre-commercial biotech; it does not sell products and currently generates no revenue. Its go-to-market model is to advance drug candidates through discovery and IND-enabling stages, then pursue strategic out-licensing or partnership transactions with larger pharmaceutical companies for late-stage clinical development and commercialization. Future revenue is expected to flow from upfront payments, development and regulatory milestones, and royalties on partnered assets, with no disclosed pricing or commercial-stage products at present.

Name

VRise Therapeutics Inc.

Legal name

VRise Therapeutics, Inc.

Website

https://vrisetx.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VRise Therapeutics is a privately held precision oncology company developing novel small molecule therapeutics targeting RAS family mutations (KRAS-G12C, G12D, and others) and the DDR pathway, using a proprietary discovery engine, with global R&D operations in the US, UK, and India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Oncology Drug Discovery

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Molecular Diagnostics (PCR/qPCR, NGS-based assays) (HLAAALAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Oncology Gene Therapies (incl. oncolytic vectors & gene-modified approaches) (HLAAACAF)

Keywords

• Precision oncology therapeutics
• Small molecule drug discovery
• KRAS mutation inhibitors
• DNA damage response targets
• Oncology licensing partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Drug Development and Licensing: As a pre-commercial precision oncology company, VRise develops novel therapeutics through discovery and early development stages, then out-licenses or partners with larger pharmaceutical companies for late-stage clinical development and commercialization. Revenue would come from upfront payments, milestone payments, and royalties from licensing agreements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

VRise Therapeutics is a pre-commercial precision oncology biotech that discovers and develops novel small molecule therapeutics using a proprietary discovery engine. Its pipeline targets RAS family mutations (KRAS-G12C, G12D, G12V, R, S) and the DNA Damage Response (DDR) pathway for cancers such as colorectal, non-small cell lung, and pancreatic cancer, with the business model centered on out-licensing assets to larger pharmaceutical partners for clinical development and commercialization.

Product overview

VRise Therapeutics is a precision oncology company developing a portfolio of novel small molecule therapeutics targeting cancer pathways. The core pipeline includes VRTX126 (KRAS-G12C inhibitor, IND-Tox ready) for colorectal cancer and NSCLC, and VRTX153 (KRAS-G12D inhibitor) for pancreatic cancer. The company is also advancing DDR Pathway targeting programs and novel KRAS approaches (G12V, R, S mutations) using a proprietary discovery engine. Additionally, VRise has secured exclusive licensing rights for KQ-2003, a CAR-T therapy, in India.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VRTX126

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 30 percent of all human cancers driven by RAS gene mutations
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• VeGen Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd.coreOthersVeGen Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd. is a subsidiary of VRise Therapeutics, located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The subsidiary provides research and development operations support in India, part of VRise's global research resources spanning India, UK and US.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Revolution Medicines: Revolution Medicines is a clinical-stage precision oncology company developing a broad portfolio of RAS(ON) inhibitors including KRAS-G12C, G12D, G13C, and multi-RAS agents. It is the most direct competitor to VRise given overlapping KRAS mutation targets, small-molecule modality, and out-licensing/partnership-focused strategy.
• Mirati Therapeutics: Mirati developed Krazati (adagrasib), the second FDA-approved KRAS-G12C inhibitor, before being acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb. It is a direct comparator for VRise's VRTX126 in indications, mechanism, and commercial-stage validation of the KRAS-G12C opportunity.
• Black Diamond Therapeutics: Black Diamond Therapeutics is a clinical-stage precision oncology company developing small-molecule therapies against oncogenic driver mutations, including RAS and DDR pathway targets. Comparable in small-molecule modality, biomarker-driven strategy, and focus on historically undruggable targets like VRise.
• Erasca: Erasca is a clinical-stage precision oncology company focused on the RAS/MAPK pathway, one of the most frequently mutated signaling cascades in cancer. It targets multiple nodes within the same pathway as VRise (KRAS, downstream effectors) and pursues biomarker-driven development, closely paralleling VRise's therapeutic strategy.
• Relay Therapeutics: Relay Therapeutics is a precision oncology company applying computational chemistry and motion-based drug design to develop small-molecule oncology therapeutics, including PI3Kα and KRAS programs. Comparable to VRise in modality (small molecule), target space (PI3K/RAS pathway), and platform-enabled discovery approach.
• Tango Therapeutics: Tango Therapeutics is a clinical-stage precision oncology company leveraging synthetic lethality and DNA Damage Response (DDR) targets to develop cancer therapeutics. Direct overlap with VRise's DDR pathway program and shared precision-oncology, biomarker-driven development model make it a strong peer.

Emerging players

• Foghorn Therapeutics: Foghorn Therapeutics develops precision oncology medicines targeting chromatin regulatory systems, including a clinical-stage KRAS-G12C inhibitor program acquired from Lilly. Comparable in small-molecule modality and oncology target focus, though Foghorn's primary differentiation lies in chromatin biology rather than direct RAS targeting.
• Jounce Therapeutics: Jounce Therapeutics is a clinical-stage precision oncology company focused on immuno-oncology and tumor biology, with multiple programs targeting specific patient populations via biomarker approaches. Comparable in precision oncology positioning and biomarker-driven patient selection methodology.

Peers

• Cogent Biosciences:

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/incvrise

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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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 VRise Therapeutics Inc.