In the past two decades, immunotherapies have become a crucial tool for doctors in treating cancer patients, utilizing the body’s immune system to attack tumors. However, checkpoint inhibitors, a type of immunotherapy, are not effective for many cancer patients. One reason for this lack of response could be the patient’s microbiome, the community of microorganisms in the gut. To address this, doctors are experimenting with fecal microbiota transplants, but this method has limitations such as transferring pathogens and difficulty in scaling treatments.
Kanvas Biosciences is offering a safer and more effective solution by deploying microorganisms discovered through their novel spatial biology platform. This technology explores the interactions between bacteria and immune cells in a patient’s microbiome, aiming to improve cancer treatments. The company recently announced a $12.5 million seed round of funding, bringing their total investments to $29.5 million. Kanvas aims to leverage the microbiome for drug development and help improve human health.
Kanvas’ platform, developed by Cofounder and Chief Technology Officer Hao Shi, uses chemical probes to identify and label specific areas of interest in the microbiome with a distinct barcode. This creates a detailed map of the bacteria in the gut, allowing the company to understand how different microorganisms interact with each other and with the patient’s immune system. By identifying the bacteria that interact with immune cells, Kanvas aims to modulate a specific immune response and enhance the efficacy of cancer treatments.
While many biotech startups have attempted to decode the microbiome, few have achieved long-term success. Kanvas’ HiPR-FISH platform has impressed investors like DCVC Partner Jason Pontin, who noted the specificity and sensitivity of the technology. By acquiring assets from Federation Bio, including a preclinical immuno-oncology program and a cell banking facility, Kanvas has strengthened its ability to scale as a full-stack therapeutic company. The company’s lead drug candidate, KAN-001, alters the microbiome to prime the immune system to fight cancer more effectively with the help of immunotherapy.
With the new funding, Kanvas plans to advance preclinical trials for KAN-001 and their second drug candidate, KAN-003. The company aims to prepare for Investigational New Drug filings and launch human clinical trials for both products in the near future. Beyond cancer treatments, Kanvas hopes to explore applications for other diseases such as multiple sclerosis and neurodegenerative diseases. The company’s platform is also being considered for use in agriculture and food safety, showcasing the potential benefits of their technology in various industries.
