Conformation-X Therapeutics Bolts out of Stealth, Securing Over $13.5M in Funding to Propel Its Innovative Immune-Oncology Pipeline
3.4.2024 13:55:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Conformation-X Therapeutics, LLC, an immune-oncology focused drug development company, announced today that it has closed an oversubscribed funding tranche of $3.65M, bringing the total raised since inception to over $13.5M. The company unveiled its lead assets by disclosing successful ex vivo and in vivo proof-of-concept studies for its HHLA2 and IL18BP programs, marking critical milestones in the cancer drug development process.
Drawing inspiration from the fundamental role of protein conformations in disease biology and drug efficacy, Conformation-X applies unparalleled precision to developing novel immune checkpoint inhibitors. The company is creating a comprehensive portfolio of differentiated therapeutics addressing cancer mechanisms that have eluded existing treatments.
“The limitations of current checkpoint therapies are evident, as they don’t fully target the diverse spectrum of mechanisms associated with non-responsiveness and treatment resistance,” said Dr. Ali H. Munawar, CEO of Conformation-X Therapeutics.
Despite the pivotal role of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in cancer immunotherapy, several peer-reviewed clinical studies have shown that the overall response rate across various cancers remains at or below 20%. Patients facing resistance to conventional checkpoint therapies encounter a range of challenges. This includes tumors that inherently possess low immunogenicity, are less likely to trigger an immune response, and immune exclusion, which restricts immune cells from the tumor microenvironment (TME). Moreover, complex genetic landscapes featuring oncogenic drivers and epigenetic modifications further contribute to immune evasion and influence treatment outcomes.
Dr. Munawar added, “We are committed to pioneering alternative therapeutic options for these patients by targeting novel biology and molecular pathways. The successive rounds of funding are a testament to our investors’ confidence in the innovation and rigor behind our efforts.”
The recent capital infusion accelerates the company towards translational studies of its lead asset and facilitates the expansion of its pipeline. The company's pipeline encompasses diverse drug target classes, extending beyond the current landscape of immune checkpoints to include novel soluble and epigenetic checkpoints while continuing to innovate within the B7-family of receptors.
“Achieving selective therapeutic targeting of HHLA2 demonstrates our team’s profound understanding of its intricate structure-function relationship and the critical role that HHLA2 plays in tumor immune evasion. Our work highlights the strength of Conformation-X’s drug discovery platform,” said Dr. Stephen Weeks, Sr. Director of Structural Biology and Biophysics.
About Conformation-X Therapeutics
Conformation-X utilizes a proprietary discovery platform enriched by structural insights to pioneer therapeutics with innovative mechanisms of action. The company is developing a diverse portfolio of immunotherapies that activate both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. The company’s premier preclinical asset includes a potent HHLA2-inhibitor that selectively restores its immune-suppressing effect with application in PD1/PDL1-negative cancers. To learn more visit www.conformationx.com.
Conformation-X Therapeutics is an independent, privately held research & development (R&D) company affiliated with the Pledge Therapeutics discovery platform.
About Pledge Therapeutics
Pledge Therapeutics is headquartered in Greater Boston with a second R&D branch in Leuven, Belgium. Pledge harnesses a state-of-the-art platform that merges structure-based drug design with biophysics, facilitating breakthroughs in the design of treatments for challenging therapeutic targets.
Pledge is grounded in a collaborative ethos, drawing on a network of experienced life sciences entrepreneurs, clinicians, and discovery scientists. Under its management umbrella, Pledge unites two independent biotech ventures: Orthogon Therapeutics, which specializes in antiviral treatments, and Conformation-X, dedicated to advancements in immune-oncology. This integrated model reinforces Pledge’s mission to revolutionize patient care across diverse therapeutic areas. More info on www.pledge-tx.com.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240403623298/en/
Contact information
Media
Ali H. Munawar, Ph.D.
amunawar@conformationx.com
1-339-502-8643
Maria Martin
mmartin@pledge-tx.com
1-339-502-8630
Krishna Kandala
kkandala@pledge-tx.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Megaport Launches Storage, Unifying Its Automated Infrastructure Platform Alongside Compute and Network Offerings4.6.2026 01:47:00 EEST | Press release
Megaport Limited (ASX: MP1) (“Megaport”), a leading global automated infrastructure platform, today announced the launch of Megaport Storage, expanding its platform to deliver integrated compute, network, and storage services. Megaport Storage integrates high-performance, enterprise cloud storage directly into the Megaport Network and Latitude.sh compute platform, giving enterprises a unified foundation that covers the three key pillars of IT infrastructure: compute, network, and storage. The launch marks a culminating step in Megaport’s evolution, delivering predictable costs, seamless scalability, and direct data access wherever customers operate. “With the launch of Megaport Storage, we’re not just connecting your cloud anymore; we’re providing the foundation for it,” said Michael Reid, CEO of Megaport. “By aligning storage needs directly with workload requirements on our global ecosystem, we’re combining the performance of dedicated infrastructure with the scalability and flexibili
C.H. Robinson Launches World's First AI Technology That Continually Assesses, Improves and Operates Global Supply Chains3.6.2026 19:00:00 EEST | Press release
As the global leader in Lean AI supply chains, C.H. Robinson has built the first AI technology designed to both operate a shipper’s global supply chain and also continuously assess and improve its performance. Now serving the company’s 4PL Managed Solutions customers, a new Lean AI Engineer works in concert with the Lean AI Planner introduced last year to create one connected system that uniquely enhances a supply chain as it runs. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260520874794/en/ The Lean AI Engineer can assess an entire supply chain in 25 to 30 minutes and determine improvements before performance is impacted – compared to supply chain assessments that typically take up to four weeks and look backward at what has happened instead of what should happen. While the Lean AI Engineer delivers intel, the Lean AI Planner manages shipments through hundreds of interconnected AI agents and in turn feeds more data back
Leading Global Brain Science Conference OHBM 2028 to Be Held in Yokohama3.6.2026 18:00:00 EEST | Press release
Yokohama has won the bid to host the 2028 Annual Meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM 2028), one of the world’s premier international conferences in brain science, further elevating the city’s presence as a global hub for international conventions and academic exchange. The meeting will take place at PACIFICO Yokohama from June 18–22 and will mark only the second time the meeting has been held in Japan. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260603787692/en/ YOKOHAMA JAPAN'S FIRST PORT OF CALL OHBM is a leading international academic society in the fields of brain imaging, neuroscience, and neurological-disease research. Its annual meeting attracts around 3,000 researchers, healthcare professionals, and industry representatives from around the world. OHBM 2028 will be organized in collaboration with the Japan Human Brain Mapping Society (JHBM, President: Yoshikazu Ugawa and Tetsuya Matsuda). The
Almarai Launches the 2026 Cycle of the World’s Largest Award for Food Security Research in Dryland Regions3.6.2026 17:31:00 EEST | Press release
The 2026 cycle of the Almarai Prize, international track of the Almarai Prize for Scientific Creativity, has officially opened, calling on leading research institutions, distinguished scientists, and global experts to nominate pioneering research that advances food security in the world’s driest regions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260603753914/en/ Almarai Launches the 2026 Cycle of the World’s Largest Award for Food Security Research in Dryland Regions (Photo: AETOSWire) The prize reflects Saudi Arabia’s expanding commitment to scientific innovation and to advancing solutions that tackle food security challenges in the world’s dryland regions. Almarai - a regional leader in food and agriculture - has long invested in scientific progress, sustainable farming, and long‑term food‑system resilience. As one of the world’s largest vertically integrated food companies, Almarai continues to place research and inn
Stabilizing Grids and Cutting Costs in Half: Europe Is Banking on Grid-Relevant Storage Systems3.6.2026 16:50:00 EEST | Press release
The European battery market is scaling up at record speed: According to the latest Solar+ Report from SolarPower Europe, at the end of 2025, the installed storage fleet in the EU had reached a total capacity of 40 gigawatts (GW) and a storage capacity of 77 gigawatt hours (GWh). This is an increase of over 45 percent compared to the previous year. By 2030, the study’s Solar+ scenario forecasts that capacity will quadruple to 171 GW, while storage capacity will increase eightfold to 598 GWh. As growing solar and wind capacities place increasing demands on European grids, storage systems will need to shift electricity over many hours. As a result, the average storage duration will go up from 1.9 to 3.5 hours. This represents a technological leap that underscores the need to establish more grid-relevant storage systems. Taking place in Munich from June 23–25, ees Europe will showcase how the industry is meeting this enormous demand. As Europe’s largest exhibition for batteries and energy
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom