ManaT Bio

About ManaT Bio

ManaT Bio, now rebranded as Clasp Therapeutics, was established in 2020 by a team of researchers from Johns Hopkins University, including Bert Vogelstein and Drew Pardoll. The company's foundation is built upon more than a decade of research into mutation-associated neoantigens (MANAs). In March 2024, the company announced its rebranding to Clasp Therapeutics along with securing $150 million in seed and Series A financing. The funding round included investors such as Catalio Capital Management, Third Rock Ventures, Novo Holdings, and Vivo Capital.

Clasp Therapeutics operates in the immuno-oncology sector, focusing on developing precision medicines to combat hard-to-treat cancers. The business model is centered on creating a suite of therapeutics that can target a wide array of cancer-driving proteins, which are typically invisible to traditional antibody-like drugs. The company aims to develop treatments for patients across various cancer types by tailoring therapies to specific combinations of driver mutations and patient immune (HLA) types. This approach allows for a highly selective patient profile, potentially leading to more effective treatments.

The core of Clasp Therapeutics' technology is its proprietary precision HLA redirecting engagers, known as pHLAre™ molecules. These molecules are designed to identify and bind to mutated protein fragments (peptides) displayed on the surface of cancer cells by specialized HLA molecules. By doing so, they draw the body's own T cells into close proximity with the tumor cells, triggering the T cells to destroy them while leaving healthy, non-malignant cells unharmed. This method is engineered to overcome the limitations of current T cell engagers that can also target healthy tissues, thereby aiming for a better safety profile and a wider therapeutic window.