News

News

Treating the Seeds of Cancer

athernal bio is developing the first immunotherapies for high-risk clonal haematopoiesis — addressing blood cancer precursor condition with the aim of stopping cancer before it starts through early and proactive therapeutic intervention.

MISSION

To design, develop and deliver the first targeted immunotherapies for high-risk blood cancer precursor conditions

UNMET NEED

Clonal haematopoiesis: a silent but widespread risk

Clonal haematopoiesis (CH) occurs when blood stem cells acquire mutations that give them a growth advantage. These altered stem cells expand over time, increasing the risk of blood cancers such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and contributing to cardiovascular and other age-related diseases. Despite its prevalence and impact, there are currently no approved therapies for CH.

Patient receiving chemotherapy treatment
Patient receiving chemotherapy treatment
Patient receiving chemotherapy treatment

15%

of people over 60

live with clonal haematopoesis

25%

Cancer survivors

treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy develop clonal haematopoesis

Clonal Hematopoiesis

Cancer Pre-cursor Disease

10x

Blood Cancer Risk

15%

of people over 60

live with clonal haematopoesis

25%

Cancer survivors

treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy develop clonal haematopoesis

Clonal Hematopoiesis

Cancer Pre-cursor Disease

10x

Blood Cancer Risk

15%

of people over 60

live with clonal haematopoesis

25%

Cancer survivors

treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy develop clonal haematopoesis

Clonal Hematopoiesis

Cancer Pre-cursor Disease

10x

Blood Cancer Risk

OUR APPROACH

A new therapeutic category for oncology

We are building immunotherapies that train the immune system to detect and eliminate CH-affected stem cells, addressing the earliest step in the development of blood cancers.

Frontline immunotherapy

Taking immunotherapy to the earliest stage of disease, before blood cancers emerge.

Precision by Design

Precision by Design

Targeted to maximise effectiveness while minimising risk.

Targeted to maximise effectiveness while minimising risk.

A LNP therapy with a vial in the background
A LNP therapy with a vial in the background
A LNP therapy with a vial in the background

Accelerated clinical strategy

Accelerated clinical strategy

Accelerated clinical strategy

Initially focusing on orphan indications with clear regulatory pathways to bring therapies to patients faster.

Initially focusing on orphan indications with clear regulatory pathways to bring therapies to patients faster.

Initially focusing on orphan indications with clear regulatory pathways to bring therapies to patients faster.

Transformative opportunity

Transformative opportunity

Delivering the first treatment option for a condition affecting millions and linked to multiple diseases.

Delivering the first treatment option for a condition affecting millions and linked to multiple diseases.

PIPELINE

Lead Clinical Programs

athernal bio is developing targeted immunotherapies to treat clonal haematopoiesis before cancers become established.

Program
Discovery

Discovery

Discovery

Preclinical

Preclinical

Preclinical

Pre-IND

Pre-IND

Pre-IND

Phase I

Phase I

Phase I

ath-00l

Rare blood disorders with accelerated CH and AML risk

ath-00l

Rare blood disorders with accelerated CH and AML risk

ath-00l

Rare blood disorders with accelerated CH and AML risk

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Cytotoxic injury

Post-chemo & RT* in cancer survivors

ath-002

Cytotoxic injury

Post-chemo & RT* in cancer survivors

ath-002

Cytotoxic injury

Post-chemo & RT* in cancer survivors

ath-003

Age-related CH in adults over 65

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Age-related CH in adults over 65

ath-003

Age-related CH in adults over 65

SCIENCE

Targeting the First Step in Cancer Evolution

Clonal haematopoiesis (CH) arises when blood stem cells, also called haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), acquire mutations that give them a survival and growth advantage. Over time, these altered stem cells expand, reshaping the blood system and significantly increasing the risk of blood cancers and other diseases.

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Infographic showing the four stages of clonal hematopoiesis

Healthy HSCs

Normally, haematopoietic stem cells produce a balanced mix of healthy blood cells.

Mutated HSCs

Some acquire mutations that give them an advantage.

Clonal Expansion

These altered stem cells grow faster and outcompete normal cells.

Disease Risk

As the altered stem cells expand, they drive inflammation and raise the risk of:

SCIENCE

Targeting the First Step in Cancer Evolution

Clonal haematopoiesis (CH) arises when blood stem cells, also called haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), acquire mutations that give them a survival and growth advantage. Over time, these altered stem cells expand, reshaping the blood system and significantly increasing the risk of blood cancers and other diseases.

Healthy HSCs

Normally, haematopoietic stem cells produce a balanced mix of healthy blood cells.

Mutated HSCs

Some acquire mutations that give them an advantage.

Clonal Expansion

These altered stem cells grow faster and outcompete normal cells.

Disease Risk

As the altered stem cells expand, they drive inflammation and raise the risk of:

Infographic showing the four stages of clonal hematopoiesis
SCIENCE

Targeting the First Step in Cancer Evolution

Clonal haematopoiesis (CH) arises when blood stem cells, also called haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), acquire mutations that give them a survival and growth advantage. Over time, these altered stem cells expand, reshaping the blood system and significantly increasing the risk of blood cancers and other diseases.

Healthy HSCs

Normally, haematopoietic stem cells produce a balanced mix of healthy blood cells.

Mutated HSCs

Some acquire mutations that give them an advantage.

Clonal Expansion

These altered stem cells grow faster and outcompete normal cells.

Disease Risk

As the altered stem cells expand, they drive inflammation and raise the risk of:

Infographic showing the four stages of clonal hematopoiesis
EXPERTS

Meet our team

A diverse group of passionate professionals, each bringing unique skills and experiences to drive innovation and excellence in every project we undertake.

athernal Team Photo

Colin Freund

Chief Executive Officer
athernal Team Photo

Colin Freund

Chief Executive Officer
athernal Team Photo

Colin Freund

Chief Executive Officer

Nirupa Desai, MD, MRCP, PhD, FRCPath

Founder & Chief Scientific Officer

Nirupa Desai, MD, MRCP, PhD, FRCPath

Founder & Chief Scientific Officer

Nirupa Desai, MD, MRCP, PhD, FRCPath

Founder & Chief Scientific Officer

leuan Walker, MD, MRCP(UK), FRCPath

Founder & Board Observer

leuan Walker, MD, MRCP(UK), FRCPath

Founder & Board Observer

leuan Walker, MD, MRCP(UK), FRCPath

Founder & Board Observer

Caroline Haegeman, PhD

Chief Operating Officer

Caroline Haegeman, PhD

Chief Operating Officer

Caroline Haegeman, PhD

Chief Operating Officer

Nigel Horscroft, DPhil

Chief Technology Officer

Nigel Horscroft, DPhil

Chief Technology Officer

Nigel Horscroft, DPhil

Chief Technology Officer

Zahid Bashir, MD, MFPM, MS

Chief Medical Officer

Zahid Bashir, MD, MFPM, MS

Chief Medical Officer

Zahid Bashir, MD, MFPM, MS

Chief Medical Officer

Laurens van Pinxteren, PhD, MBA

Head of CMC

Laurens van Pinxteren, PhD, MBA

Head of CMC

Laurens van Pinxteren, PhD, MBA

Head of CMC

Louise Hosie, PhD

Immunology

Louise Hosie, PhD

Immunology

Louise Hosie, PhD

Immunology

Jonathan Hay, PhD

Board Member

Jonathan Hay, PhD

Board Member

Jonathan Hay, PhD

Board Member

Peter Smith, PhD

Board Member

Peter Smith, PhD

Board Member

Peter Smith, PhD

Board Member

Our Advisors

Dr. George Vassilou

Professor of Haematological Medicine, University of Cambridge

Dr. George Vassilou

Professor of Haematological Medicine, University of Cambridge

Dr. George Vassilou

Professor of Haematological Medicine, University of Cambridge

Dr. Jessica B. Flechtner

Principal and CEO of Flechtner Biotechnologies. Former CSO of Genocea Biosciences and co-founder, CSO/COO of DoriNano

Dr. Jessica B. Flechtner

Principal and CEO of Flechtner Biotechnologies. Former CSO of Genocea Biosciences and co-founder, CSO/COO of DoriNano

Dr. Jessica B. Flechtner

Principal and CEO of Flechtner Biotechnologies. Former CSO of Genocea Biosciences and co-founder, CSO/COO of DoriNano

Dr. Shinu John

Ex- Head of Immunology Renagade Therapeutics, Ex- Moderna

Dr. Shinu John

Ex- Head of Immunology Renagade Therapeutics, Ex- Moderna

Dr. Shinu John

Ex- Head of Immunology Renagade Therapeutics, Ex- Moderna

Prof. David Kent

Professor of Stem Cell Biology, Centre for Blood Research, University of York.

Prof. David Kent

Professor of Stem Cell Biology, Centre for Blood Research, University of York.

Prof. David Kent

Professor of Stem Cell Biology, Centre for Blood Research, University of York.

Dr. Juan Li

Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge

Dr. Juan Li

Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge

Dr. Juan Li

Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge
A mutated hematopoietic stem cells
A mutated hematopoietic stem cells
A mutated hematopoietic stem cells
A healthy hematopoietic stem cells
A healthy hematopoietic stem cells
A healthy hematopoietic stem cells
An early mutated hematopoietic stem cells
An early mutated hematopoietic stem cells
An early mutated hematopoietic stem cells
INVESTORS

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COLLABORATORS

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