Latest news with #SirenBiotechnology
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Siren Biotechnology to Present Universal AAV Immuno-Gene Therapy Data at the 2025 American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Annual Meeting
SAN FRANCISCO, May 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Siren Biotechnology Inc., pioneers of Universal AAV Immuno-Gene Therapy for Cancer, today announced that it will present new scientific data at the 2025 American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Annual Meeting, taking place May 13–17 in New Orleans, LA. The company's presentations include one oral session and two poster presentations that highlight recent scientific advances and underscore the therapeutic potential of Siren's AAV-based immuno-gene therapy platform across solid tumor indications. Presentation details: Oral Presentation: SRN-101 Universal AAV Gene Therapy for Solid Tumors. Dr. Nicole K. Paulk, CEO, Founder, President, Siren Biotechnology May 17, 2025 | 8:00am CST Poster Presentations: Vectorized Interferons Provide a Robust and Sustained Transcriptional Response Over Traditional Non-Vectorized Recombinant Cytokine Therapies in Human High-Grade Glioma Cells. Justin Lee, BS, Preclinical Associate Scientist May 14, 2025 | 5:30 – 7:00pm CST Identification of Pharmacologically Relevant Species for IND-Enabling Toxicology Studies by Deep Comparative Transcriptomic Profiling of PBMCs Treated with Recombinant Human Payloads. Christopher Lovejoy, MS, Preclinical Associate Scientist May 14, 2025 |5:30 – 7:00pm CST 'We're excited to share our latest data with the scientific community at ASGCT, which remains the most prestigious venue for showcasing gene therapy innovations,' said Dr. Nicole K. Paulk, PhD, Siren Biotechnology's CEO and Founder. 'These presentations reflect our continued progress advancing our Universal AAV Immuno-Gene Therapy Platform and our commitment to developing transformative therapies to treat solid tumor cancers.' About Siren Biotechnology Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Siren Biotechnology is sounding the alarm against cancer. We are the pioneers of Universal AAV Immuno-Gene Therapy, which combines the promise of two transformative therapeutic technologies, AAV gene therapy and cytokine immunotherapy, into a single modality which we believe will redefine how we destroy tumor cells and elicit anti-tumor immunity. Our vision is for Universal AAV Immuno-Gene Therapy to become the standard of care for any solid tumor cancer. To learn more, visit and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Universal AAV Immuno-Gene Therapy for Cancer. It's Here. CONTACT: Contact Akela Kuwahara press@
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Siren Biotechnology to Present Universal AAV Immuno-Gene Therapy Data at the 2025 American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Annual Meeting
SAN FRANCISCO, May 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Siren Biotechnology Inc., pioneers of Universal AAV Immuno-Gene Therapy for Cancer, today announced that it will present new scientific data at the 2025 American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Annual Meeting, taking place May 13–17 in New Orleans, LA. The company's presentations include one oral session and two poster presentations that highlight recent scientific advances and underscore the therapeutic potential of Siren's AAV-based immuno-gene therapy platform across solid tumor indications. Presentation details: Oral Presentation: SRN-101 Universal AAV Gene Therapy for Solid Tumors. Dr. Nicole K. Paulk, CEO, Founder, President, Siren Biotechnology May 17, 2025 | 8:00am CST Poster Presentations: Vectorized Interferons Provide a Robust and Sustained Transcriptional Response Over Traditional Non-Vectorized Recombinant Cytokine Therapies in Human High-Grade Glioma Cells. Justin Lee, BS, Preclinical Associate Scientist May 14, 2025 | 5:30 – 7:00pm CST Identification of Pharmacologically Relevant Species for IND-Enabling Toxicology Studies by Deep Comparative Transcriptomic Profiling of PBMCs Treated with Recombinant Human Payloads. Christopher Lovejoy, MS, Preclinical Associate Scientist May 14, 2025 |5:30 – 7:00pm CST 'We're excited to share our latest data with the scientific community at ASGCT, which remains the most prestigious venue for showcasing gene therapy innovations,' said Dr. Nicole K. Paulk, PhD, Siren Biotechnology's CEO and Founder. 'These presentations reflect our continued progress advancing our Universal AAV Immuno-Gene Therapy Platform and our commitment to developing transformative therapies to treat solid tumor cancers.' About Siren Biotechnology Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Siren Biotechnology is sounding the alarm against cancer. We are the pioneers of Universal AAV Immuno-Gene Therapy, which combines the promise of two transformative therapeutic technologies, AAV gene therapy and cytokine immunotherapy, into a single modality which we believe will redefine how we destroy tumor cells and elicit anti-tumor immunity. Our vision is for Universal AAV Immuno-Gene Therapy to become the standard of care for any solid tumor cancer. To learn more, visit and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Universal AAV Immuno-Gene Therapy for Cancer. It's Here. CONTACT: Contact Akela Kuwahara press@
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Siren, a gene therapy startup, tests unconventional alternative to venture funding
This story was originally published on BioPharma Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily BioPharma Dive newsletter. Biotechnology startups usually turn to a few tried-and-true options to raise the money they need to develop a new drug. Company founders might get initial financial help from friends, family or an angel investor. Perhaps they'll apply for grant funding or a spot in a startup accelerator. More often than not, they'll then rely on venture funding to survive. Siren Biotechnology, a San Francisco-based gene therapy startup, has already done some of that work. The company received a $4 million grant as well as $28 million in venture funding since its founding in 2020, and has the support of a few well-known firms like Founders Fund and Lux Capital. Recently, though, Siren began testing a different idea to supplement its fundraising: the type of 'community investment round' often employed by tech startups but rarely their biotech counterparts. Last month, Siren announced plans to pursue what's known as regulation crowdfunding, a financial tool that involves selling equity stakes to 'accredited' investors who meet specific Securities and Exchange Commission income and net worth criteria, as well as non-accredited individuals who don't. The SEC allows companies to use this approach to raise up to $5 million over a one-year period through an online, agency-registered intermediary, such as a funding portal. Siren is using a platform called WeFunder. The amount Siren seeks represents a fraction of the typically hundreds of millions — if not more — that biotech companies need to bring a drug to market. However, CEO and scientific founder Nicole Paulk views the idea as a creative way to attract different types of investors. 'The scientist in me is just like, 'We're going to run this experiment and see if it works,'' she said in an interview. Siren is developing a kind of medicine that blends elements of gene therapy and cancer immunotherapy. It's using a type of virus to send into tumors engineered versions of cancer-fighting cytokines. The company's lead program, for an aggressive form of brain cancer called high-grade glioma, is in preclinical testing. Siren aims to ask regulators around the end of the year to start human testing, according to Paulk. Biotechs in Siren's mold have had a difficult time of late raising funds for these experiments. Venture firms have coalesced around fewer but larger bets, leading a spike in $100 million-plus 'megarounds' and a preference for more proven drug startups. Gene and cell therapy developers have been hit particularly hard during this shift, with funding totals falling significantly from their peak a few years ago. Paulk says the investment climate didn't factor into Siren's decision to pursue crowdfunding. Nonetheless, Paulk believes such tools could be helpful for Siren and early-stage companies like it. A small amount of cash goes a long way for a preclinical startup, she said, and could be useful for biotechs that need to reach their next milestone but can't secure cash from institutional investors. Paulk, a former University of California, San Francisco assistant professor, said the idea was first suggested to her by a prominent local CEO who invested in Siren. She began looking into it in January, and became intrigued by crowdfunding's novelty, as well as its potential to draw in individuals, like patients and their families, who might have a personal stake in the company's research. 'I just became enamored with the concept,' she said. Patients, caregivers and their friends can, of course, donate to disease foundations that often issue grants to academic labs and scientists. Yet those funds might go toward supporting projects that are years from human testing or may never get there. Paulk contends these communities might be inclined to invest in a company with a treatment their patients could later receive in a trial. Such direct investment does pose risks, however. Siren's WeFunder homepage doesn't mention the gene therapy field's recent headwinds, nor does it fully detail the arduous journey every biotech faces in proving the safety and efficacy of promising new therapies. Most drugs, even those based on cutting-edge and sophisticated science, later fail in testing. Siren does provide information on its financial health and operations for 2023 and 2024, a rare window into the inner workings of a private company, as well as an independent auditor's report. According to the WeFunder page, prospective investors who contribute $50,000 will receive quarterly reports from Siren, while anyone who invests $100,000 gets twice yearly calls with Paulk. Paulk wouldn't say exactly how much the company has raised so far. But she's closely watching to see who the idea resonates with, what works or doesn't, and intends to share the details with other aspiring founders. She's already been contacted by others in the biotech startup community to discuss her experience. 'I'm talking about this everywhere," she said. 'I'm not trying to make it a secret by any means.' Since opening the round, Siren has cleared the $50,000 minimum threshold WeFunder requires before disbursing funds. As of Wednesday, more than a dozen people had publicly identified themselves as investors. One 'lead' investor, Lynn Fischer, a managing director at KMAK Capital, said her firm put in $200,000. 'Our investment is an expression of confidence in Siren Biotechnology's scientific innovation, their ability to navigate the complexities of the regulatory landscape, and their power to deliver on the massive potential of AAV immuno-gene therapy for patients,' Fischer wrote on the funding portal webpage. Sign in to access your portfolio
Associated Press
05-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Siren Biotechnology Expands Clinical and Scientific Advisory Board with Key Industry Leaders
SAN FRANCISCO, March 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Siren Biotechnology, pioneers of Universal AAV Immuno-Gene Therapy for Cancer, today announced the appointment of three distinguished industry and academic experts to its Clinical and Scientific Advisory Board. The new members bring vast expertise in clinical neuro-oncology and translational cytokine biology and will provide strategic guidance as the company advances its platform of breakthrough AAV immuno-gene therapies. 'We are thrilled to welcome these industry-leading experts to our Clinical and Scientific Advisory Board,' said Dr. Nicole K. Paulk, CEO, Founder, and President of Siren Biotechnology. 'Their deep expertise and insights will be invaluable as we advance AAV immuno-gene therapy to the clinic.' The new members of the Clinical and Scientific Advisory Board include: Dr. Samuel C. Blackman, MD, PhD, Co-Founder and former Head of R&D at Day One Biopharmaceuticals – A trailblazer in pediatric oncology drug development, Dr. Blackman is a physician-scientist trained in Pediatric Oncology and Neuro-Oncology and has led the early clinical development of more than 10 novel cancer therapeutics. Most recently, Dr. Blackman played a pivotal role in the development, clinical advancement, and FDA approval of OJEMDA™ (tovorafenib), a breakthrough therapy for pediatric low-grade glioma brain tumors. His extensive experience in early-phase clinical trials and precision medicine approaches has contributed to bringing transformative treatments to young patients in need. Dr. Blackman has held roles at Juno Therapeutics, Merck, Seattle Genetics, GlaxoSmithKline, and Silverback Therapeutics and sits on the Board of Directors for both the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and CureSearch for Children's Cancer. Dr. Mustafa Khasraw, MD, Professor of Medicine, Neuro-Oncology, Integrative Immunobiology, Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, and Medical Oncologist at Duke University School of Medicine and member of the Duke Cancer Institute – A global expert in Neuro-Oncology, Dr. Khasraw has been at the forefront of clinical research, driving the development of cutting-edge therapeutic strategies for brain cancers. As Deputy Director of the Center for Cancer Immunotherapy at the Duke Cancer Institute, Dr. Khasraw facilitates clinical research and the translation of promising discoveries to the clinic, particularly in the field of immune therapies. His leadership in innovative trial designs has accelerated the translation of promising therapies from bench to bedside, offering new hope to patients with aggressive malignancies. Dr. Khasraw has been Principal Investigator on dozens of brain cancer clinical trials and leads a tumor immuno-biology academic program focused on translational research and clinical trials at the renowned Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University. Dr. Leonidas Platanias, MD, PhD, Director of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern University – An internationally recognized leader in cancer biology and translational medicine, Dr. Platanias has pioneered research on signal transduction pathways in cancer, with a focus on the role of cytokines in cancer and immune response. Dr. Platanias holds the Jesse, Sara, Andrew, Abigail, Benjamin and Elizabeth Lurie Professor of Oncology position in the Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics. He also serves as Associate Vice President for Cancer Programs in Northwestern's Office for Research. Dr. Platanias has published more than 370 papers, and his work has been continuously funded by the National Cancer Institute for almost 30 years. Among his many career honors, Dr. Platanias received the Seymour and Vivian Milstein Award for Excellence in Interferon and Cytokine Research. A member of various scientific societies, he served as President of the International Society of Interferon and Cytokine Research and in other national leadership positions. His groundbreaking contributions have led to advancements in targeted therapies, shaping the development of novel cancer treatments and improved patient outcomes. The addition of these experts strengthens Siren Biotechnology's commitment to pioneer next-generation AAV gene therapies that harness the power of cytokine immunotherapy to address some of the world's deadliest cancers. Their collective expertise will help advance Siren Biotechnology's innovative platform of AAV immuno-gene therapies, accelerating the development and delivery of potentially transformative treatments to patients who need them most. About Siren Biotechnology Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Siren Biotechnology is sounding the alarm against cancer. We are the pioneers of Universal AAV Immuno-Gene Therapy, which combines the promise of two transformative therapeutic technologies, AAV gene therapy and cytokine immunotherapy, into a single modality which we believe will redefine how we destroy tumor cells and elicit anti-tumor immunity. Our vision is for Universal AAV Immuno-Gene Therapy to become the standard of care for any solid tumor cancer.
