January 6, 2021 -- Leaps by Bayer, the investment arm of Bayer AG, and Senti Biosciences (Senti Bio) have announced a $105 million series B financing round to develop chimeric antigen receptor-engineered natural killer (CAR-NK) cell cancer therapies.
Senti Biosciences uses synthetic biology to engineer gene circuits that improve cell and gene therapy products. Funds will be used to apply Senti Biosciences' gene circuit platform to develop an internal therapeutic pipeline of allogeneic CAR-NK candidates for difficult-to-treat cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Senti Biosciences' gene circuits are novel and proprietary combinations of DNA that enable cells to sense their environment, perform logic, and to instruct cells to produce therapeutic proteins for enhanced safety and efficacy
Proceeds from the financing round will be used to support the development of preclinical oncology programs and expanding Senti Biosciences gene circuit technology platform across different modalities and therapeutic areas. Senti Biosciences also plans to scale up clinical manufacturing.