Jenga Biosciences

What Jenga Biosciences does

Jenga Biosciences is an early-stage veterinary biotechnology company developing immunotherapies for canine cancer. Founded in 2024 and headquartered in Carmel, United States, the company operates a two-asset pipeline: JEN-101, an investigational intratumoral therapy that anchors canine interleukin-12 (IL-12) within the tumor microenvironment using aluminum hydroxide to limit systemic toxicity while driving local and systemic anti-tumor immune responses; and JEN-102, an investigational caninized anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody designed to restore T-cell function by blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint pathway. Both candidates are pre-clinical or in early clinical development, targeting the significant unmet need in veterinary oncology where only nine cancer treatments are approved for veterinary use in the U.S.

The company's core technology is the anchored cytokine platform licensed exclusively worldwide from Ankyra Therapeutics under a March 2024 agreement that includes milestone payments, royalties, and an option on future Ankyra pipeline agents for animal health. Jenga bridges human oncology breakthroughs to veterinary applications using the comparative oncology model, in which canine cancers serve as natural translational models for human disease. Clinical development is conducted in partnership with the University of Illinois Cancer Center under Dr. Timothy Fan, with the Scientific Advisory Board drawing leadership from Ethos Discovery, VANE, and the Veterinary Cancer Society.

The business model centers on developing and commercializing proprietary veterinary biotherapeutics through veterinary oncology clinics and academic veterinary cancer centers, with revenue ultimately generated via product sales and licensing/royalty arrangements under the Ankyra agreement. The go-to-market is sales-led and partnership-driven, leveraging academic and pharmaceutical collaborations rather than a traditional sales force, and the company has not publicly disclosed pricing for its pipeline candidates. As a pre-commercial, pre-clinical entity, Jenga currently generates no product revenue.

Name

Jenga Biosciences

Legal name

Jenga Biosciences

Website

https://jengabio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Jenga Biosciences is an early-stage veterinary biotechnology company developing immunotherapies for canine cancer, operating a pipeline of anchored cytokine (JEN-101) and caninized anti-PD-1 (JEN-102) drug candidates through academic and industry partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Biopharmaceuticals

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Oncology & Specialty Therapeutics (HLAMAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Companion Animal Therapeutics (Rx) (HLAMAEAA), Biologics & Immunotherapies (Non-vaccine) (HLAMAEAK)

Keywords

• Veterinary oncology therapies
• Canine cancer immunotherapy
• Companion animal biopharmaceuticals
• Anchored cytokine platform
• Intratumoral cancer treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Carmel

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. JEN-101 Development and Commercialization: Jenga has an exclusive worldwide license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize JEN-101. Ankyra Therapeutics receives upfront payment and is eligible for regulatory and commercial milestone payments, plus royalties on worldwide sales. Future Ankyra pipeline agents could be developed by Jenga for animal health indications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Jenga Biosciences develops and plans to commercialize investigational veterinary biotherapeutics for canine cancer. Its lead candidate, JEN-101, is an anchored cytokine therapy that localizes canine IL-12 within the tumor microenvironment using an aluminum hydroxide anchor to drive anti-tumor immunity with limited systemic toxicity. Its second candidate, JEN-102, is a caninized anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody designed to block the PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint pathway in dogs.

Product overview

Jenga Biosciences is an early-stage veterinary biotherapeutics company developing immunotherapies for canine oncology. The company operates a pipeline of two investigational drug candidates: JEN-101 (anchored cytokine therapy using IL-12 anchored to tumors with aluminum hydroxide) and JEN-102 (caninized monoclonal antibody targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint pathway). Both products are in pre-clinical/early clinical stages and are being developed to address the significant unmet need in veterinary oncology, with only nine approved cancer treatments for veterinary use in the U.S.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• JEN-101 JEN-101 is an investigational intratumoral therapy that anchors the immune-stimulating cytokine canine IL-12 within the tumor microenvironment using aluminum hydroxide, limiting systemic exposure while driving a potent anti-tumor response. It is intended for veterinary oncologists and pet owners of dogs with advanced solid tumors such as oral melanoma.
• JEN-102 JEN-102 is an investigational caninized monoclonal antibody designed to target immune checkpoints within the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in dogs, intended to block the tumor's ability to evade detection and restore T-cell function. It is being developed for veterinary oncologists treating canine cancers with PD-L1 expression.

Quantifiable outcome

• First-in-human ANK-101 trial demonstrated no dose-limiting toxicities and durable disease control in majority of patients
• +2 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ankyra TherapeuticscoreTechnology or Integration · 26 March 2024Ankyra Therapeutics granted Jenga Biosciences an exclusive worldwide license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize JEN-101 (formerly cANK-101). JEN-101 is a first-in-class pre-clinical immuno-oncology agent based on Ankyra's anchored platform. Under the agreement, Jenga leads further development and commercialization, while Ankyra receives upfront payment and is eligible for regulatory and commercial milestone payments plus royalties on worldwide sales. Future Ankyra pipeline agents could also be developed by Jenga for animal health indications.
• University of Illinois Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical trials for JEN-101 conducted under the leadership of Dr. Tim Fan at the University of Illinois. The trials in dogs with advanced oral melanoma have showcased JEN-101's safety and effectiveness, reinforcing Jenga's mission to advance cutting-edge cancer treatments.
• Ethos DiscoverycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeather Wilson-Robles, DVM, DACVIM, serves as Lead Scientific Advisor through Ethos Discovery. Ethos Discovery is a key contributor to the scientific advisory board supporting Jenga's research initiatives in veterinary oncology.
• VANE (Veterinary Alliance for New Endeavors)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIra Gordon, DVM DACVR-RO, co-founder of VANE and President-Elect of the Veterinary Cancer Society, serves on Jenga's Scientific Advisory Board, bringing expertise in veterinary oncology and radiation oncology.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Virbac: Virbac is a global animal health company offering pharmaceutical and biological products across companion and production animal segments. It has presence in veterinary specialty therapeutics and competes in the same broad veterinary biotherapeutics category as Jenga.
• Elanco Animal Health: Elanco is a major animal health company that acquired Aratana Therapeutics, KindredBio, and VetDC (including Tanovea for canine lymphoma). It is the dominant incumbent in veterinary oncology and represents both a competitor and a likely acquirer/partner for emerging canine cancer biotechs.
• Dechra Pharmaceuticals: Dechra is a specialty animal health pharmaceutical company focused on companion animal therapeutics, including oncology-supportive care. It operates in the same specialty veterinary channel and competes for share of veterinary practice prescribing.
• Zoetis: Zoetis is the largest global animal health company, with a broad portfolio including oncology diagnostics and therapeutics for companion animals. It competes broadly with Jenga in veterinary cancer care and has the commercial scale to dominate any validated canine oncology category.
• Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health: Boehringer Ingelheim's animal health division is a major global animal health company with established companion animal therapeutics. It competes broadly in specialty veterinary medicine and has the R&D and commercial scale to pursue novel canine oncology biologics.

Emerging players

• PetDx: PetDx develops liquid biopsy and molecular diagnostics for early cancer detection in dogs. While focused on diagnostics rather than therapeutics, it overlaps with Jenga in serving the canine oncology workflow and the same specialty veterinary oncology customer.
• VetStem BioPharma: VetStem develops regenerative stem cell therapies for companion animals, including oncology-adjacent indications. It operates in the same specialty veterinary channel and competes for novel-therapy adoption among veterinary oncology specialists.
• Ankyra Therapeutics: Ankyra is the licensor of Jenga's core platform technology and develops the human counterpart (ANK-101) of JEN-101. While it focuses on human oncology, it shares the same anchored cytokine platform and scientific founders, making it a closely linked comparator and strategic partner.

Direct peers

• Torigen Pharmaceuticals: Torigen develops autologous cancer immunotherapy vaccines for companion animals, including dogs. Like Jenga, it operates in veterinary immuno-oncology and distributes through specialty veterinary practices.
• FidoCure: FidoCure offers precision medicine and targeted therapies for canine cancer, directly competing with Jenga in the veterinary oncology therapeutics space for dogs. Both companies target pet owners and specialty veterinary clinics with advanced cancer treatment options.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jengabio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Jenga Biosciences