Series B Biotech companies in San Francisco

Character Biosciences is a precision medicine company transforming drug development for progressive, polygenic diseases, beginning with ophthalmology. Our mission is to identify the genetic and molecular drivers of disease progression so we can develop targeted therapies for patients who urgently need them. We've built one of the most comprehensive resources in age-related eye diseases by partnering with over 150 ophthalmology clinics to integrate genetics with longitudinal clinical and imaging data. This deep phenotyping approach enables us to reclassify complex diseases like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) into genetically defined subtypes, unlocking novel therapeutic targets and optimizing patient selection for clinical trials.Character Bio’s AI-powered platform combines genomics, multi-modal data, and machine learning to discover and develop therapies that are more precise and more effective. Our lead programs, CTX114 and CTX203, are advancing toward clinical trials and are designed to slow or prevent vision loss in AMD patients.We are committed to delivering a new generation of precision medicines to treat and ultimately cure age-related blindness.

• Series B
• 58 employees
• Founded 2019

SonoThera is developing ultrasound-mediated nonviral genetic therapies.

• Series B
• 52 employees
• Founded 2022

T-knife is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation engineered T cell therapies and in vivo cell therapies for solid tumors. The company combines proprietary engager technology, synthetic biology, and a deep understanding of solid tumors to create armored supercharged T cell therapies designed to achieve broad, deep, and durable responses for patients in high unmet-need indications.T-knife’s lead oncology program, TK-6302, is a potentially best-in-class engineered TCR-T cell therapy targeting PRAME, a clinically validated cancer antigen expressed across multiple high-value solid tumor indications, including ovarian cancer, melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), endometrial cancer, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). TK-6302 has been specifically designed to overcome barriers in the solid tumor microenvironment leading to improved persistence of highly functional T-cells.T-knife is also advancing two proprietary in vivo cell therapy programs for solid tumors aimed at reprogramming immune cells directly within the patient. These first- and best-in-class in vivo T cell therapy candidates are leveraging the company's broad solid tumors technology toolbox and incorporate innovative designs to improve in vivo cell therapy efficacy in solid tumors.Founded by leading experts in T cell biology, immunology, and cancer immunotherapy, T-knife was built on pioneering research from the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. The company is led by an experienced biotech leadership team and backed by leading global life science investors, including Andera Partners, EQT Life Sciences, RA Capital Management, and Versant Ventures.

• Series B
• 41 employees
• Founded 2019

Marea Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company harnessing the latest advances in human genetics to develop first-in-class, next-generation medicines for cardio-endocrine diseases. The company’s lead program, MAR001, is in Phase 2 clinical development for adults with metabolic dysfunction and high risk for cardiovascular disease. The company is also advancing MAR002 for the treatment of acromegaly.

• Series B
• 41 employees
• Founded 2022

At Nura Bio (previously known as Proneurotech Inc.), we envision a world where the diagnosis of a neurological disorder comes with the hope of a cure. Expanding on recent breakthroughs in crucial neurodegenerative pathways, we are positioned to deliver transformative neuroprotective therapies to prevent and protect against neuronal loss and related neuroimmune dysregulation. Our research and development strategy is currently centered on two approaches: prevention of neuronal loss to preserve neurological function; and restoring the function of the neuron-glia axis to improve the nervous system’s immune surveillance capacity in response to neurological injury. Our discovery engine and emerging multi-target pipeline spans these approaches and is well positioned to address a broad range of neurological diseases. Nura Bio’s lead program is the SARM1 inhibitor program. SARM1, has recently emerged an axon-intrinsic metabolic sensor that is a pivotal driver of axonal degeneration and neuronal integrity. Axon degeneration is an early event in several neurological disorders, and halting it early has tremendous potential in the treatment of central, peripheral, and ocular neurological diseases.

• Series B
• 35 employees
• Founded 2018