One To Watch

Purple Biotech

A clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class therapies aimed at overcoming tumor immune evasion and drug resistance. Purple Biotech focuses on immuno-oncology and targeted cancer therapies designed to enhance immune responses against solid tumors.

Company Overview

Purple Biotech is a biotechnology company developing therapies for cancer that target mechanisms allowing tumors to evade immune attack and resist existing treatments. The company’s strategy centers on identifying novel molecular pathways associated with immune suppression and drug resistance in tumors and developing therapies that restore immune system activity against cancer cells.

Its pipeline includes both biologic and small-molecule therapies designed to enhance immune responses, inhibit tumor survival pathways and improve the effectiveness of existing cancer treatments such as checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies.

The company operates as a clinical-stage developer with a pipeline built around several first-in-class programs targeting immune checkpoints, resistance pathways and tumor microenvironment signaling.

Headquarters and Global Presence

Purple Biotech is headquartered in Rehovot, Israel.

The company conducts research and clinical development activities through international collaborations with clinical centers and biotechnology partners. Its clinical programs are conducted across multiple countries as part of global oncology trials.

Founding and History

The company originated as Kitov Pharma Ltd. and later rebranded as Purple Biotech in 2020 as part of a strategic shift toward innovative oncology therapeutics.

The rebranding coincided with expansion of its oncology pipeline through acquisitions and licensing of novel therapeutic programs, including CM24 and NT219.

Since then, the company has focused its development strategy on first-in-class cancer therapies targeting immune evasion and tumor resistance pathways.

Therapy Areas and Focus

Purple Biotech’s development programs focus primarily on oncology.

Key areas of development include:

pancreatic cancer
head and neck cancers
colorectal cancer
other solid tumors with immune-evasion mechanisms

The company’s therapies are designed to work both as monotherapies and in combination with existing immunotherapies and targeted cancer drugs.

Technology Platforms and Modalities

Purple Biotech’s development strategy combines multiple therapeutic modalities targeting immune and resistance pathways in tumors.

Key approaches include:

monoclonal antibodies targeting immune checkpoint proteins
small-molecule inhibitors targeting tumor survival and resistance pathways
multispecific antibody platforms designed to activate immune cells within the tumor microenvironment

These technologies are intended to restore immune system activity against tumors and overcome resistance to existing cancer therapies.

Key Pipeline and Programs

CM24

Modality: humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CEACAM1
Indication focus: pancreatic cancer and other solid tumors
Status: Phase II clinical development
Mechanism: blocks the CEACAM1 immune checkpoint, enabling immune cells to attack tumors.

NT219

Modality: small-molecule dual inhibitor
Targets: IRS1/2 and STAT3 pathways associated with cancer resistance
Indication focus: head and neck cancer and other solid tumors
Status: Phase I/II clinical development.

CAPTN-3 platform

Modality: conditionally activated tri-specific antibodies engaging T cells and NK cells
Indication focus: multiple solid tumors
Status: preclinical development and advancing toward first-in-human trials.

These programs collectively target multiple aspects of tumor immune evasion and therapeutic resistance.

Key Personnel

Gil Efron, Chief Executive Officer
Michael Schickler, Head of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs
Shai Lankry, Chief Financial Officer

Strategic Partnerships

Purple Biotech collaborates with academic institutions, biotechnology companies and pharmaceutical partners to advance its clinical programs.

Key collaborations include:

Bristol Myers Squibb, which collaborates on clinical studies evaluating CM24 in combination with the PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab
academic research institutions supporting clinical trials and biomarker research.

These collaborations support clinical development and evaluation of combination immunotherapy strategies.

FAQ Section

The principal strategic issue is demonstrating that therapies targeting tumor immune evasion and resistance pathways can produce meaningful clinical outcomes. Validation of these mechanisms in late-stage trials will determine whether the company’s therapies can improve outcomes in difficult-to-treat cancers.

Many cancers develop mechanisms that allow them to evade immune detection and resist existing therapies. Drugs that block these mechanisms may restore immune system activity and improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy treatments.

CM24 is the company’s most advanced program and targets CEACAM1, an immune checkpoint protein that contributes to tumor immune suppression. Blocking this protein may allow immune cells to attack tumor cells more effectively.

NT219 targets two signaling pathways, IRS1/2 and STAT3, that are associated with cancer drug resistance and tumor survival. The therapy is being evaluated in clinical trials for several solid tumors.

CAPTN-3 is a multispecific antibody platform designed to activate immune cells directly within the tumor microenvironment. The technology aims to recruit both T cells and natural killer cells to attack cancer cells.

Purple Biotech’s development programs focus on cancers characterized by immune suppression and treatment resistance.

Key indications include:

pancreatic cancer
head and neck cancer
colorectal cancer
other advanced solid tumors

Key issues include:

clinical results from Phase II studies of CM24
advancement of NT219 into later-stage trials
development progress of the CAPTN-3 multispecific antibody platform
the company’s ability to secure financing and partnerships supporting continued clinical development.

Want to Update your Company's Profile?