Our Mission

Pioneering next-generation, neoantigen-targeting engineered T cell receptor therapies for solid cancers

Neogene Therapeutics is a global, clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the discovery, development, and manufacturing of next-generation engineered T cell receptor (TCR) therapies targeting a broad spectrum of solid cancers.

Cancer is a genetically individual disease – no two tumors are exactly the same. Genetic changes can create neoantigens – unique targets in or on tumor cells that set them apart from healthy cells. Neogene’s novel approach delivers a tailored therapy based on neoantigen-targeting TCR genes that target neoantigens found in an individual patient’s tumor. Our proprietary TCR identification and selection platform allows us to identify neoantigen-specific TCR genes. These TCR genes are engineered into patient-derived T cells based on in-house developed T cell engineering technologies with the goal of eliciting strong and durable responses in a variety of solid tumor indications. The ability of such engineered T cells to attack a patient tumor can be further modulated through additional, targeted genetic modifications that are explored by Neogene for this purpose.

By developing a portfolio of TCRs targeting common cancer-causing mutations that result in neoantigens shared between patients as well as TCR therapies targeting neoantigens unique to a patient’s tumor, we aim to enable wider access to individualized engineered T cell therapies for a broad spectrum of cancers.

Carsten Linnemann

While engineered T cell therapies have transformed the treatment paradigm for patients with hematologic malignancies, effective T cell therapy is unavailable for solid cancers. To truly revolutionize patient outcomes, we need a new approach to effectively treat and potentially cure solid cancers. We aim to treat a wide range of patients with solid tumors by targeting neoantigens with engineered TCR therapies.

Carsten Linnemann, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Our History

Neogene is built on the premise of innovation and novel paradigm-changing science to enable effective T-cell therapy of solid cancers.

  • September 2018

    Founded in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, by world-class cell therapy experts Ton Schumacher, Ph.D. and Carsten Linnemann, Ph.D. to advance the development of neoantigen T cell therapies.

  • May 2019
  • September 2020

    Raised $110 million Series A financing from marquee group of investors.

  • October 2020
  • May 2021

    Established U.S. headquarters in Santa Monica, CA

  • November 2021
  • January 2022

    Secured an exclusive license with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for a portfolio of TCRs targeting KRAS and TP53 mutations

  • May 2022
  • January 2023

    Acquired by AstraZeneca

  • September 2018
  • May 2019

    Secured seed investment from Bellco Capital, TPG, Two River and Vida Ventures.

  • September 2020
  • October 2020

    Announced strategic partnership with Twist Bioscience to build synthetic TCR libraries.

  • May 2021
  • November 2021

    Opened first clinical TCR selection facility in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

  • January 2022
  • May 2022

    Received approval of Clinical Trial Application for NT-125

  • January 2023
  • September 2018

    September 2018

    Founded in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, by world-class cell therapy experts Ton Schumacher, Ph.D. and Carsten Linnemann, Ph.D. to advance the development of neoantigen T cell therapies.

  • May 2019

    May 2019

    Secured seed investment from Bellco Capital, TPG, Two River and Vida Ventures.

  • September 2020

    September 2020

    Raised $110 million Series A financing from marquee group of investors.

  • October 2020

    October 2020

    Announced strategic partnership with Twist Bioscience to build synthetic TCR libraries.

  • May 2021

    May 2021

    Established U.S. headquarters in Santa Monica, CA

  • November 2021

    November 2021

    Opened first clinical TCR selection facility in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

  • January 2022

    January 2022

    Secured an exclusive license with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for a portfolio of TCRs targeting KRAS and TP53 mutations

  • May 2022

    May 2022

    Received approval of Clinical Trial Application for NT-125

  • January 2023

    January 2023

    Acquired by AstraZeneca

Our Team

Neogene’s leadership team is comprised of world-leading TCR experts and cell therapy industry veterans with decades of oncology knowledge and experience, who hold a deep commitment to providing innovative therapies to patients with cancer.

Carsten Linneman
Carsten Linnemann, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer

Kanti Thirumoorthy
Kanti Thirumoorthy, Ph.D.

Senior Vice President, Technical Operations

Gavin M. Bendle, Ph.D.
Gavin M. Bendle, Ph.D.

Senior Vice President, Research and Development

Marisa Leonard
Marisa Leonard

Vice President, Chief of Staff to the CEO and Head of Business Development

Sanne Weijzen, Ph.D.
Sanne Weijzen, Ph.D.

Vice President, Head of Corporate Strategy and Global Operations

Sanjeeve Bala
Sanjeeve Bala, M.D.

Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs

Arianne Perez
Arianne Perez Garcia, Ph.D.

Senior Vice President, Translational Sciences

Celeste Chang
Celeste Chang, M.S. Eng, MBA

Vice President, Supply Chain

Sarah Cohen
Sarah Cohen, M.D.

Vice President, Head of Clinical Development

Heather Francis, MSE
Heather Francis, M.S. Chem Eng.

Vice President, Manufacturing and Facilities

David Lund
David Lund, Ph.D.

Vice President, Intellectual Property

Harish Mundre
Harish Mundre

Vice President, Head of Information Technology

Marianna Sabatino
Marianna Sabatino, M.D., Ph.D.

Senior Vice President, Process Development

Sunny Xie
Sunny Xie

Vice President, Biometrics