lentistem biotech

What lentistem biotech does

Lentistem Biotech is a private R&D-stage biotechnology company headquartered in Granada, Spain, that designs and produces therapeutic lentiviral vectors for CAR-T cell cancer immunotherapy. Founded in 2016 as a spin-out from Fundación Progreso y Salud, the company was built on patented gene-expression control technologies developed by Prof. Francisco Martín's research group and operates from the GENYO Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research. Its core mission is to address the principal limitations of current CAR-T therapies — the roughly 50% relapse rate in hematologic malignancies, the absence of effective CAR-T options for solid tumors, severe toxicities such as Cytokine Release Syndrome and neurotoxicity, and manufacturing variability — through engineered viral vectors that allow tighter control of CAR-T cell activity.

The company offers two proprietary technology platforms. The TCR-like Platform enables physiological expression of CAR receptors using viral vectors that mimic natural T-cell receptor interaction patterns, providing self-control of CAR expression upon tumor encounter to prevent overstimulation and improve T-cell fitness. The Lent-On-Plus Platform is a transactivator-free, doxycycline-inducible lentiviral vector system for fine-tuned control of gene expression, used to generate 4th-generation inducible CAR-T cells (iTRUCKs). Its lead candidate, LOP-IL-18, expresses interleukin-18 under doxycycline control to convert cold tumors into hot tumors in solid tumors and hard-to-treat lymphomas. The technology base is applied in two consortium programs: FITHER18 (regulatable 4th-generation CAR-T cells for HER2+ solid tumors) and CARPanTu (tumor-microenvironment targeting for pancreatic cancer).

The company's business model is built on non-dilutive grant funding, royalty-generating technology licensing, and public-private research consortiums rather than commercial product sales. To date it has secured approximately €302,250 across three Spanish government grants (CDTI NEOTEC €203,400 in 2020, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación €49,574 in 2021, and AEI Industrial PhD €49,276 in 2023) and licenses its platforms to 18 laboratories worldwide, with its technologies cited in more than 70 peer-reviewed publications. Pricing and commercial revenue are not publicly disclosed, consistent with a pre-commercial R&D posture.

Name

lentistem biotech

Legal name

Lentistem Biotech

Website

https://lentistem.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Lentistem Biotech is a Granada, Spain-based R&D-stage biotech that develops proprietary lentiviral vector platforms (TCR-like and Lent-On-Plus) to improve the safety and efficacy of CAR-T cell therapies for hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cell and Gene Therapy / Immuno-Oncology

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Lentiviral Vector Gene Therapy Developers (HLAAACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

CAR-T & TCR-T Therapies (HLAAABAC), Cell Therapy Enabling Technologies (gene editing, cell engineering, delivery methods) (HLAAABAL), Oncology Gene Therapies (incl. oncolytic vectors & gene-modified approaches) (HLAAACAF)

Keywords

• Lentiviral vector development
• CAR-T cell therapy
• Cancer immunotherapy platforms
• Gene therapy research
• Cell therapy technology licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Granada

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Lentistem Biotech designs and produces therapeutic lentiviral vectors used as enabling technology for CAR-T cell cancer immunotherapy. Its core business is the development and licensing of two proprietary platforms—TCR-like (physiological CAR receptor expression) and Lent-On-Plus (transactivator-free doxycycline-inducible gene expression)—which together provide improved efficacy, safety, and fine-tuned control of CAR-T cell therapies for hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.

Product overview

Lentistem Biotech offers two proprietary technology platforms for improving CAR-T cell therapies: the TCR-like Platform enables physiological expression of CAR receptors to prevent overstimulation and exhaustion, while the Lent-On-Plus Platform provides transactivator-free doxycycline-inducible control of therapeutic gene expression for generating inducible TRUCKs (iTRUCKs). These platforms are being applied to develop therapeutic candidates like LOP-IL-18 for solid tumors and lymphomas, and are used in research projects including FITHER18 (HER2+ solid tumors) and CARPanTu (pancreatic cancer). The company also publishes scientific literature on lentiviral vectors for advanced therapy applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TCR-like Platform: First platform allowing physiological expression of the CAR receptor using viral vectors, providing self-control of CAR expression after tumor encounter, preventing overstimulation and improving CAR-T cell fitness
• Lent-On-Plus Platform

Products and services

• TCR-like Platform A synthetic lentiviral vector platform that enables physiological expression of CAR receptors, mimicking the natural expression pattern of the T-cell receptor interaction. It provides self-control of CAR expression after tumor encounter, preventing overstimulation and improving the fitness of CAR-T cell therapy. Licensed to research laboratories worldwide for use in CAR-T cell immunotherapy development.
• Lent-On-Plus Platform A transactivator-free doxycycline-inducible gene expression system built on lentiviral vectors, enabling fine-tuned exogenous control of transgene expression in CAR-T cells. Generates inducible TRUCKs (iTRUCKs) for safer and more controlled cancer immunotherapy in clinical settings. Licensed to research laboratories worldwide.
• LOP-IL-18 Therapeutic Vector A therapeutic lentiviral vector expressing interleukin-18 (IL-18) under doxycycline control, designed to target solid tumors and hard-to-treat lymphomas by transforming cold tumors into hot tumors via the master regulator cytokine IL-18.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% of CAR-T treated patients with leukemias and lymphomas relapse within few years
• +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

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FIBAO (Fundación Pública Andaluza Investigación Biosanitaria)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Lead research institution in FITHER18 consortium for developing regulatable 4th generation CAR-T cells. Prof. Francisco Martin leads the FIBAO group and coordinates the consortium.
• CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Research partner in FITHER18 consortium represented by Dr. Rosa María Yañez. Contributes expertise in gene therapy research for advanced therapies.
• IdisNA (Instituto de Investigación SantécoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Research partner in FITHER18 consortium represented by Dr. Juan Roberto Rodríguez-Madoz. Contributes expertise spanning from fundamental research to clinical trials.
• University of GranadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2021Partner in CARPanTu project for targeting tumor microenvironment in pancreatic cancer. Hosts Scientific Advisory Board members including Prof. Juan Antonio Marchal and Prof. Houria Boulaiz.
• GENYO (Pfizer-University of Granada-Junta de Andalucía Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted Gene and Cell Therapy research group led by Prof. Francisco Martin. Company is located in Genyo Building. Contributes to Open Innovation Forum and Genyo Scientist Conference events.
• Fundación Progreso y Salud (FPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment foundation from which LentiStem spun out in 2016. Company holds exclusive license to multiple patented technologies developed by Prof. Francisco Martin's team. Partner in CARPanTu project.
• CIMA (Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in CARPanTu project focused on targeting tumor microenvironment to improve CAR-T cell immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer.
• Hospital Universitario Reina SofíaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospital collaborator for advancing development programs in oncological research and therapeutic areas.
• Hospital Virgen del RocíominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospital collaborator for advancing development programs in oncological research and therapeutic areas.
• Hospital Clínic de BarcelonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospital collaborator for advancing development programs in oncological research and therapeutic areas.
• Crystalgel S.L.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany partner from University of Granada spinoff ecosystem, collaborating in the biotech network.
• Master Diagnostica / Vitro.BiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany partner collaborating in biotech ecosystem for diagnostics and therapeutic development.
• PharmamelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany partner in biotech ecosystem for pharmaceutical development.
• REGEMAT 3DminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany partner, with Prof. Juan Antonio Marchal serving on both LentiStem Scientific Advisory Board and REGEMAT.
• Vive BiotechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany partner specializing in contract manufacturing of viral vectors for biotech companies.
• PTS Granada Foundation (Health Technology Park)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganized Acexhealth Business Accelerator Program where LentiStem won Silver Prize. Hosted San Telmo Business School presentations and other networking events. Supports Extenda program for international partnership development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cellectis: Cellectis develops gene-edited allogeneic CAR-T products, directly overlapping Lentistem's engineered T-cell cancer-immunotherapy focus. Lentistem is more specialized in lentiviral expression control, but both seek to improve therapeutic-cell functionality and safety.
• CARsgen Therapeutics: CARsgen develops autologous CAR-T therapies for hematologic cancers and solid tumors, matching Lentistem's target indications. It is a direct clinical-stage comparator, while Lentistem operates at an earlier, more platform-focused stage.
• Tessa Therapeutics: Tessa develops T-cell immunotherapies, including CAR-T approaches for solid tumors. Its focus on overcoming the solid-tumor microenvironment makes it highly comparable to Lentistem's HER2-positive and pancreatic programs.
• Arcellx: Arcellx develops controllable CAR-T therapies for cancer, making its engineered-control architectures particularly relevant to Lentistem's TCR-like and inducible-expression platforms. Both companies use cell engineering to improve activity and safety.
• Autolus Therapeutics: Autolus develops engineered CAR-T therapies for cancer, sharing Lentistem's therapeutic-cell engineering and genetic-modification category. The companies differ in clinical maturity and program focus but remain direct therapeutic comparators.
• Gracell Biotechnologies: Gracell develops CAR-T and other engineered immune-cell therapies, directly overlapping Lentistem's cancer-immunotherapy focus. Its technologies are more manufacturing-oriented, but the target biology, customers, and therapeutic modality are comparable.
• Mustang Bio: Mustang develops CAR-T and gene-therapy programs, overlapping with Lentistem's advanced-therapy and engineered-cell focus. It is a direct, though broader, comparator across oncology cell therapy and gene delivery.
• Caribou Biosciences: Caribou develops genome-edited allogeneic CAR-T therapies, offering an alternative to Lentistem's lentiviral expression-control approach. It is an emerging direct peer because both seek programmable and safer T-cell products for cancer.
• bluebird bio: bluebird bio develops lentiviral-vector gene therapies, directly matching Lentistem's core delivery modality, although its disease areas and commercial maturity differ. It is a useful benchmark for lentiviral therapeutic development.

Others

• Oxford Biomedica: Oxford Biomedica develops and manufactures lentiviral vectors and provides cell- and gene-therapy CDMO services. It is an enabling and potentially competing infrastructure peer to Lentistem rather than a like-for-like therapy developer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lentistem-biotech-s-l

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about lentistem biotech