Intelligent and adaptive cell therapies to treat the complexity of human disease.
Our vision is to provide cancer patients with first-in-class adaptive immune cell therapies that are readily silenced, activated, and reprogrammed throughout the course of disease.
Arcellx’s innovating immune cell therapies aim to achieve:
Arcellx is a privately held development-stage company founded in 2015 and located in Montgomery County, Maryland. The Arcellx team is devoted to providing patients with superior immune cell therapies through scientific innovation, accelerated development, and responsible patient care. Although our initial clinical focus is cancer therapy, we are committed to extending our Antigen- Receptor Complex T cell (ARC-T) therapies across a broad spectrum of human disease.
Current engineered immune cell therapies often target tumors through a mono-specific receptor that is constitutively expressed and active. In contrast, Arcellx has developed Antigen Receptor Complex T cells (ARC-T) that are readily silenced, activated, and reprogrammed in vivo by administration of a tumor-targeting antigen protein called a sparX.
We control the activity of ARC-T cells by replacing the scFv binding domain found in conventional chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) with a proprietary binding domain specific for a universal “TAG”. Arcellx’s ARC-T cells are then armed with a soluble protein antigen-receptor X-linker (sparX) comprising one or more target binding domains fused to the “TAG”. The formation of the ARC-T, sparX, and tumor complex directs the ARC-T to kill the tumor.
ARC-T cells are designed to enhance the safety and efficacy of conventional CAR-T therapy in the following ways:
Arcellx is developing a broad pipeline of sparX proteins to direct the activity of ARC-T cells in a number of cancers for which immune cell therapies have the potential to improve patient outcomes.
Leaders are distinguished by their vision of success and the success of their vision. Arcellx has brought together a team of distinguished leaders to anchor our Discovery, Translational, Manufacturing, Clinical, Business and Finance functions.
David has spent the past 20 years combining his disciplined approach to science with the business of effective drug development and corporate management. David is the President and CEO of Arcellx, a company he founded in 2015. Prior to Arcellx, he was a Director and CSO at Zyngenia, Inc., and led the company’s development of multi-specific antibody-based therapeutics. From 2006 to 2009, David consulted with leading scientists, executives, and venture firms in assisting startup biotech companies with the many strategic and operational challenges associated with early stage drug development. In 2004, he served as Vice President of Research at Cellective Therapeutics, a start-up antibody company acquired by MedImmune in October 2005. David began his biotech career in 1996 at Human Genome Sciences (HGS) where he spent 8 years guiding the preclinical development of antibodies and genomics-based therapeutics. Prior to joining HGS, David worked at the National Cancer Institute, NIH where he investigated neoplastic transformation of B lymphocytes. David received his B.S. from Haverford College and his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.
Angela has extensive experience in clinical development, medical affairs, and business development, having led clinical programs in oncology and cell & gene therapy in a variety of pharmaceutical settings. Angela previously served as Chief Medical Officer of NKarta Therapeutics and Arvinas.
At Novartis, Angela served as the first Global Clinical Program Head for CAR-T, and helped build the CART-19 (CTL019, Kymriah) program from the ground up. Prior to that, as Head of Clinical Evaluation for the Novartis Oncology Business Development group, she was extensively involved with licensing in new compounds to strengthen the Novartis oncology and hematology pipeline, including CTL019 (Kymriah) and SelG1 (Crizanlizumab). Earlier at Novartis, Angela was a Clinical Lead for the development of new oncology assets including panobinostat (Farydak) and PI3K inhibitors. At Exelixis, Angela served as Clinical Lead for multiple drugs in early development, including cobimetinib (Cotellic). At Johnson & Johnson, she held a medical affairs role supporting oncology products.
Angela completed her undergraduate studies at Rensselaer through the accelerated biomedical program, and went on to received her MD from Albany Medical College in New York, followed by surgical residency. She obtained her MBA from NYU Stern School of Business.
Prior to joining Arcellx, Laura spent 14 years at MedImmune, most recently as Vice President of Translational Sciences, and 2 years with the Gene Therapy Program-University of Pennsylvania as head of Translational Research. Laura received her PhD in Molecular Virology/Pathobiology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and her DVM from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Today, she works with the Arcellx team to translate the company’s novel platform cell therapy approach into clinical trials.
Prior to joining Arcellx, Han worked in the Corporate Development and Ventures group at AstraZeneca where he focused on mergers and acquisitions, transformative deals, strategic equity investments, and helped manage AstraZeneca/MedImmune’s equity portfolio of over 25 companies. Prior to AstraZeneca, Han was an integral part of two biotech start-ups that both had successful exits where his activities included conducting IND enabling animal studies, business development, and leading fundraising efforts. Han’s experience includes being on the board of multiple companies and over $6b in business development/equity deals. Han received his BA in Genetics and minor in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. He received his PhD in Genetics and MBA from Yale University.
Shashi has over 25 years of experience in biological CMC development and manufacturing and is the company’s Vice President of Protein Sciences. Prior to joining Arcellx, he was head of Process Development at Jazz. Prior to Jazz he has held various CMC leadership positions at Alexion, Synageva, Zyngenia, Teva, Cogenesys and Human Genome Sciences. Shashi has extensive knowledge of all biological CMC functions with experience of developing a CMC strategy from early pre-clinical stage through commercialization. Shashi was a co-recipient of Technology award from government of India. Shashi has a Ph.D. in Biochemistry.
Marianna joined Arcellx in August 2018 as Vice President of Cell Product Sciences leading the process development and manufacturing strategy for Arcellx’s cell therapies and pipeline expansion activities. Prior to Arcellx, Marianna was the Senior Director of Product Sciences at Kite Pharma, leading the development of company’s pipeline and supporting the Biologics License Application filing for Yescarta™. Earlier in her career, Marianna was a Staff Scientist at the Cell Processing Section of the National Cancer Institute, overseeing the development of novel cell and gene therapies in single-center and multi-center clinical trials in patients with hematologic malignancies, solid tumors and genetic disease. Marianna received her Medical Degree and professional training in Medical Oncology from the University of Siena, Italy.
Travis Quigley oversees clinical development activities at Arcellx and is responsible for moving oncology programs to, and through the clinic.
Travis brings close 20 years of oncology and clinical development experience to Arcellx. Most recently, he was VP of Early Oncology Development at bluebird bio, working with research and development to build a stable of oncology programs and collaborations. Travis was the Program and Clinical Leader for the bluebird anti-BCMA CAR-T program including the Celgene collaboration. Previously, Travis held roles of increasing responsibility at Foundation Medicine and Infinity Pharmaceuticals, working on clinical development trials demonstrating the utility of a pan-cancer genomic sequencing assay and small molecule clinical trials, respectively. Before moving to industry, Travis was at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston working with Industry collaborators on the early development of an array of Phase 1 programs including the development of Gleevec® and Sutent® for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors, and Yondelis® in Soft Tissue Sarcomas, leading to their approval.
Travis earned his BS from Villanova University, where he was a Division 1 swimmer and conference champion, and his MS from University of Massachusetts.
Arcellx was founded on committed relationships that began with our early investors and have continued as the company has grown to include additional stakeholders. As we look forward, we aim to extend those relationships to include strategic partnerships with key pharmaceutical companies and research institutions.
Ali joined NEA in 2007 and is currently a General Partner on the healthcare team. He specializes in investments in the biopharmaceutical, medical device, specialty pharmaceutical and healthcare services sectors. Prior to joining NEA, Ali worked as an intern and later as a consultant in business development at The Medicines Company, a specialty pharmaceutical company developing acute care cardiovascular products. He previously held positions as a Venture Associate at Morgan Stanley Venture Partners and as a Healthcare Investment Banking Analyst at Lehman Brothers. He conducted basic science research in the fields of viral fusion inhibition and structural proteomics at the National Institutes of Health and at Duke University. Ali concurrently earned his MD degree from The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and his MBA degree from The University of Pennsylvania Wharton School, where he graduated with Honors and was a Palmer Scholar. He graduated summa cum laude and received his bachelor’s degrees with distinction in Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Chemistry from Duke University.
Tiba joined Novo Ventures (US) Inc. in San Francisco, California in 2010. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Arcellx Inc., Nkarta, Inc., Avalyn Pharmaceuticals, Spruce Biosciences, Aristea Therapeutics, and Mirum Pharmaceuticals. Previously, she was a board member of AnaptysBio Inc. (IPO 2017), iRhythm Technologies Inc. (IPO 2016), Cianna Medical Inc. (Cianna Medical was acquired in 2018) and Thesan Pharmaceuticals Inc. Tiba has more than 15 years of combined research, banking experience and investing in life sciences that spans various therapeutic areas and technology platforms. Prior to joining Novo Ventures (US) Inc., Tiba was a Director with Burrill & Company where she has completed regional and cross-border M&A, licensing, and financing transactions for biotech and large pharmaceutical companies.
Tiba received her PhD from the Graduate Group in Biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco where her research involved developing computational methods for drug discovery. She has an undergraduate degree in physics from the University of California, Irvine. Tiba is also a published author of scientific articles and book chapters in the area of rational drug design.
Jill joined SR One in 2011 with a background in biotech partnering and commercial development. Prior to SR One, Jill was responsible for Corporate Development at Dynavax Technologies, where she was involved in multiple pharma partnering deals as well as substantial private and public financings. Previously, Jill was a consultant specializing in health care at Clearview Projects and Mercer Management Consulting.
Jill received her BS in Chemistry from Duke University, and her MS in Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology from Johns Hopkins University. Jill is a member of the Board of Directors of Arcellx Therapeutics, Gotham Therapeutics, Nkarta Inc and Second Genome and is involved with SR One’s investments in eFFECTOR, Progyny, Principia and TP Therapeutics.
Roger Sawhney, MD, is currently a Director with the Health Care investing team at KKR & Co. He leads investments in leading health care companies.
Roger has over 20 years of experience in the life sciences industry, both as the SVP and Head of Corporate Strategy at Novartis as well as a Partner in the Health Care practices of BCG (Boston Consulting Group) and Bain and Company.
Earlier in his career, Roger founded and managed Avatar Capital Partners, an early stage venture fund that made successful investments in tech and health care companies, including Cvent, Navic Networks and CoreHarbor.
Roger received his MD from Harvard Medical School and his BA in Economics (with Distinction) from Stanford University.
David has spent the past 20 years combining his disciplined approach to science with the business of effective drug development and corporate management. David is the President and CEO of Arcellx, a company he founded in 2015. Prior to Arcellx, he was a Director and CSO at Zyngenia, Inc., and led the company’s development of multi-specific antibody-based therapeutics. From 2006 to 2009, David consulted with leading scientists, executives, and venture firms in assisting startup biotech companies with the many strategic and operational challenges associated with early stage drug development. In 2004, he served as Vice President of Research at Cellective Therapeutics, a start-up antibody company acquired by MedImmune in October 2005. David began his biotech career in 1996 at Human Genome Sciences (HGS) where he spent 8 years guiding the preclinical development of antibodies and genomics-based therapeutics. Prior to joining HGS, David worked at the National Cancer Institute, NIH where he investigated neoplastic transformation of B lymphocytes. David received his B.S. from Haverford College and his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.
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Please email info@arcellx.com for all enquiries.
Arcellx, Inc.
25 West Watkins Mill Road, Suite A
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
