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Cancer targeting attack particles

Granza Bio is developing cancer therapeutics modelled from our body’s own immune system. Our therapeutics termed “attack particles” are engineered to specifically target only cancer cells, preventing any unwanted toxicity and adverse side effects. Our attack particles have shown cancer-killing efficacy in brain (glioblastoma), ovarian, lung, and skin cancers. Our platform can also be deployed to target a great range of diseases including autoimmune diseases and infections. Interested to know more? Get in touch founders@granzabio.com!
Granza Bio
Founded:2023
Team Size:2
Location:San Francisco
Group Partner:Surbhi Sarna

Active Founders

Ashwin Nandakumar, Founder

Ashwin completed his PhD (DPhil) in Oncology at the University of Oxford. After completing his PhD, he began working as a Cancer Research UK post-doctoral researcher at Oxford University and also at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London. He also brings experience setting up oncology clinical trials and working in oncology start-ups.
Ashwin Nandakumar
Ashwin Nandakumar
Granza Bio

Ashwin Jainarayanan, Founder

Granza Bio, DPhil (PhD) in Interdisciplinary Bioscience - University of Oxford
Ashwin Jainarayanan
Ashwin Jainarayanan
Granza Bio

Company Launches

Tl;dr: We are Granza Bio, two PhD graduates in Oncology and Immunology from the University of Oxford on a mission to develop personalised and targeted cancer treatments. We are working on a new weapon in our immune system’s arsenal – “attack particles”. We are turning this concept into a therapeutic product that can eliminate any cancer without harming the surrounding healthy cells, preventing adverse side effects.

Hey everyone, we are (Ashwin)²

Team

🧑🏾Ashwin Jainarayanan – Clarendon Scholar and Synthetic Immunologist with extensive research experience on attack particles derived from immune cells.

🧑🏾Ashwin Nandakumar – Cancer biologist specializing in immuno-oncology, who has previously set up clinical trials and brings extensive Oncology start-up experience.

👨🏻‍🔬 Mike Dustin – Professor of Molecular Immunology at the University of Oxford. Widely recognised for his work on immunological synapses and discovered attack particles.

❌ Problem:

~50% of cancer patients receive treatments that are (1) ineffective and (2) lead to unwanted and avoidable side effects.

(1) High mortality rates: Ineffective treatments lead to cancer relapse and ultimately, increased likelihood of dying from cancer. Five-year survival rates are lower than 5% for patients with late-stage cancers including lung, pancreas, and brain cancer.

(2) Toxicity and adverse side effects: While emerging treatments such as immunotherapy and CAR-T cell therapy are effective in some patients, they also impact their healthy tissues. This causes high toxicity and adverse side effects.

✅ Solution: Granza Bio’s cancer-targeting attack particles

We have identified attack particles ⚡: a powerful suite of weapons in our immune system’s arsenal. These attack particles carry proteins like granzymes and perforins that instantly kill cancer cells.

Watch how it works!

📋 Factfile: Granza Bio’s attack particles

  • 💀 High cancer-killing efficacy in brain, ovarian, lung, and skin cancers.
  • ⚙ Engineered to target only the cancer cells, leaving the surrounding healthy cells untouched, meaning no toxicity or adverse side effects.
  • 🧠 Capable of targeting brain cancers by crossing the blood-brain barrier.
  • 🎯 Perfectly suited to a platform approach meaning we can use attack particles to target a great range of diseases including cancers, autoimmune diseases, and infections.
  • 🏭 Highly stable and easy to manufacture.

Lock & Key method – attack particle targeting cancer

🙏 Our Asks:

  • Share this post with your network and help spread the word!
  • If you’re as excited as we are about this novel approach to eradicating cancer and would like to learn more about what we’re doing, email us at founders@granzabio.com

YC Sign Photo

YC Sign Photo