Artisan Pharma

About Artisan Pharma

Artisan Biopharma operates as a for-profit public benefit corporation with a focused mission on advancing treatments for pediatric cancer. The company is entirely owned by the Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute (cc-TDI) and functions to bridge the gap between cc-TDI's breakthrough research and the implementation of transformative clinical trials. The core of its business is to accelerate the development of research-driven interventions for treating and preventing childhood cancers.

The company was co-founded by Dr. Charles Keller, a physician-scientist specializing in pediatric cancer experimental therapeutics. His extensive background in the biology of childhood sarcomas and preclinical investigation directly informs the company's direction. The leadership team also includes individuals with deep experience in venture capital, finance, and pharmaceutical manufacturing, such as Kelly Woolwine, who brings 28 years of industry experience, and Tim Brown, a former Vice President of Genentech.

Artisan Biopharma's business model centers on taking the preclinical knowledge and drug discovery engine of its parent, cc-TDI, to move new or existing drugs with pediatric cancer indications toward clinical trials. This approach de-risks capital investment for partners. The company is actively developing its own intellectual property, such as building proprietary linkers and payloads for antibody-drug conjugates, while also licensing promising antibodies from major pharmaceutical companies. Revenue and operational funding are pursued through a multi-faceted approach that includes venture capital, tax-free initiatives, and strategic partnerships with research centers, pharmaceutical firms, nonprofit foundations, and investors. One of its key developments involves an antibody-drug conjugate targeting the IL13 receptor alpha 2, a high-value target for a fatal childhood brain tumor.