CIS BIOPHARMA

What CIS BIOPHARMA does

CIS BIOPHARMA AG is a privately held, Swiss-domiciled (Bubendorf, Basel-Land) oncology biotechnology company founded in 2023 via spin-off from CIS Pharma. The company develops precision immuno-conjugates — antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), nanobody-drug conjugates (NDCs), and radioligand therapies (RLTs) — targeting tumor-associated antigens CD171/L1CAM and CD276/B7H3. Its lead candidate CBO-001 is an ADC for small cell lung cancer (SCLC); CBO-002 is a nanobody-drug conjugate for brain metastases from lung, breast, and gastrointestinal tumors; and CBO-003 is a radioligand therapy for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

The underlying bioconjugation platform combines expertise in protein engineering, linker chemistry (including dual-drug, high-DAR, and site-specific enzymatic conjugation), and high-containment laboratory capabilities. A payload arsenal spans topoisomerase-I inhibitors, the microtubule inhibitor MMAE, and radionuclides attached via DOTA chelators. Research collaborations are in place with ETH Zurich, Paul Scherrer Institute, FHNW, and University Children's Hospital Zurich, with Roger Schibli (ETH) advising on radiopharmaceutical chemistry.

CIS BIOPHARMA is pre-revenue: pipeline candidates are in preclinical/early clinical stages with no disclosed licensing revenue, and the operating model targets future revenue from product sales, licensing deals, or acquisition. The company employs roughly 10 people and is led by third-generation family members (Christoph Schäfer as co-founder/CEO, Kathrin Schäfer-Locher as co-founder/Board member) alongside a recruited leadership bench drawing from Novartis, Roche, Amgen, Pfizer, Serono, Roche-Genentech, and major investment banks.

Name

CIS BIOPHARMA

Legal name

CIS BIOPHARMA AG

Website

https://cisbiopharma.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CIS BIOPHARMA AG is a Basel-based, privately held oncology biotech (founded 2023) developing precision antibody-drug conjugates, nanobody-drug conjugates, and radioligand therapies for small cell lung cancer, brain metastases, and glioblastoma.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Oncology Therapeutics

NAICS

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

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Oncology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAA), Antibody Discovery & Engineering Platforms (display tech, bispecifics, Fc engineering) (HLAAAIAB)

Keywords

• Antibody-drug conjugates
• Radioligand therapy
• Precision oncology
• Nanobody drug conjugates
• Cancer therapeutics

Headquarters

HQ city

Bubendorf

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Drug Development and Licensing: As a pre-revenue biotechnology company in the development stage, CIS BIOPHARMA is focused on developing proprietary cancer therapies (ADCs, NDCs, RLTs) with the goal of achieving regulatory approval and commercializing treatments. Revenue will likely come from product sales, licensing deals, or acquisition.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CIS BIOPHARMA develops next-generation immuno-conjugates, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), nanobody-drug conjugates (NDCs), and radioligand therapies (RLTs) for the treatment of aggressive tumors. The company uses a proprietary bioconjugation platform with custom linkers to design targeted oncology drug candidates, including pipeline assets CBO-001, CBO-002, and CBO-003, intended for eventual licensing or partnership with larger pharmaceutical firms.

Product overview

CIS BIOPHARMA develops a portfolio of precision cancer therapies including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), nanobody-drug conjugates (NDCs), and radioligand therapies (RLTs). The company's lead program is CBO-001, an ADC targeting CD 171 for small cell lung cancer. CBO-002 is an NDC targeting CD 276 for brain metastases, while CBO-003 is a radioligand therapy also targeting CD 276 for glioblastoma. These programs are built on the company's bioconjugation platform, which enables development of proprietary targeting moieties with various linker/drug combinations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CBO-001 Immuno-conjugate oncology drug candidate from CIS BIOPHARMA's proprietary bioconjugation platform, targeting aggressive tumors as part of the company's pipeline intended for partnering or out-licensing to larger pharmaceutical companies.
• CBO-002 Second immuno-conjugate oncology drug candidate developed by CIS BIOPHARMA using its proprietary bioconjugation platform, designed to target aggressive tumors and available for partnering or out-licensing.
• CBO-003 Third immuno-conjugate oncology drug candidate built on CIS BIOPHARMA's bioconjugation platform, targeting aggressive tumors and positioned for partnering or out-licensing to larger pharmaceutical companies.
• Bioconjugation Platform Proprietary bioconjugation technology platform leveraging custom linker chemistry and nanobody engineering to develop antibody-drug conjugates, nanobody-drug conjugates, and radioligand therapies for aggressive tumors. Supports CIS BIOPHARMA's pipeline assets and serves as the foundation for partner and licensing opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• CBO-001 demonstrates exceptional preclinical efficacy versus standard-of-care and other emerging targets such as B7H3 and DLL3 in SCLC
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ETH ZurichcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 December 2024Research partnership with ETH Zurich for development of CBO-002 program targeting brain tumors. ETH Zurich professor Roger Schibli serves as advisor, contributing expertise in radiopharmaceutical chemistry and molecular imaging for development of novel radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in oncology.
• Paul Scherrer InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Paul Scherrer Institute's center for Radiopharmaceuticals as part of CBO-002 program development for targeted radioligand therapy addressing incurable brain tumors.
• University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration with FHNW supporting CBO-002 program development for brain tumor therapeutics.
• University Children's Hospital ZurichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership with University Children's Hospital Zurich as part of CBO-002 program development for novel targeted therapies.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Heidelberg Pharma: German clinical-stage ADC company developing proprietary ADCs using amanitin-based payload technology (ATAC platform) with novel linkers. Comparable as a European ADC platform peer advancing multiple candidates against solid tumor targets.
• Araris Biotech: Preclinical-stage Swiss biotech developing next-generation ADCs using a proprietary one-step site-specific conjugation technology with novel linker-payload combinations. Highly comparable as a Swiss-based, similarly-sized ADC platform company with novel bioconjugation methodology.
• Pyxis Oncology: Clinical-stage ADC biotech developing next-generation antibody-drug conjugates for difficult-to-treat cancers, including programs targeting B7H3 (microtubule-inhibitor ADC) and other tumor-associated antigens. Highly comparable as a similarly-sized ADC platform company pursuing overlapping oncology targets.
• Tubulis: Preclinical/early-clinical German biotech developing next-generation ADCs with proprietary payload and linker platforms, focused on solid tumors. Comparable as a European ADC platform peer at similar development stage targeting cancer with novel bioconjugation approaches.
• Bolt Biotherapeutics: Clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing next-generation ADCs with immune-stimulating Boltbody technology. Comparable as a similarly-positioned ADC platform company targeting solid tumors with proprietary conjugation approaches.
• Mersana Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) using proprietary payload and linker platforms including Dolasynthen and Immunosynthen. Comparable as a focused ADC platform company targeting solid tumors with novel conjugation chemistry.

Broad incumbents

• Novartis (Radioligand Therapy): Major pharmaceutical company with significant radioligand therapy franchise (Pluvicto/Lutathera) acquired through Advanced Accelerator Applications. Comparable as the dominant incumbent in radioligand therapies and an obvious potential acquirer or partner for CIS BIOPHARMA's NRC programs.
• Telix Pharmaceuticals: Commercial-stage radiopharmaceutical company developing diagnostic and therapeutic radioligands for oncology (e.g., Illuccix for PSMA imaging). Comparable as a more advanced peer in the same radioligand therapy space, providing a commercialization benchmark for CIS BIOPHARMA's CBO-002/CBO-003 programs.
• Lantheus Holdings: Established radiopharmaceutical company with commercialized products (Definity, PYLARIFY) and growing radioligand therapy pipeline. Comparable as a more advanced radioligand-focused peer providing industry benchmarks for CBO-002/CBO-003 development and commercialization.

Emerging players

• Tagworks Pharmaceuticals: Preclinical-stage Dutch biotech developing click-chemistry-based ADCs that enable in vivo payload release. Comparable as an emerging European ADC peer with novel linker/conjugation chemistry at similar early development stage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cisbiopharma

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 CIS BIOPHARMA