Cartography Biosciences announced the completion of a $67 million Series B financing round led by Pfizer Ventures, positioning the San Francisco-based oncology company to advance its lead T-cell engager program into clinical testing. The funding will support the advancement of CBI-1214, a novel bispecific antibody targeting colorectal cancer, with Phase 1 trial enrollment targeted for early 2026.
Targeting an Underserved Cancer Population
CBI-1214 represents a potentially significant advancement in colorectal cancer treatment, specifically designed to address microsatellite stable (MSS) and microsatellite instability-low (MSI-L) subtypes that represent the vast majority of colorectal cancer patients. According to company founder Kevin Parker, a former Stanford University researcher, treatment options for patients with the most common "microsatellite stable" form are currently limited to mostly chemotherapy or targeted drugs, with "pretty poor" response rates.
The T-cell engager targets LY6G6D, an emerging tumor antigen that is "uniquely expressed" on colorectal tumors with minimal expression on healthy cells. This specificity is crucial for the MSS and MSI-L patient populations, which remain a major area of unmet medical need as checkpoint inhibitors like Merck's Keytruda have been limited to a rarer colorectal cancer type that elicits a stronger immune response.
Mechanism and Competitive Landscape
T-cell engagers work by drawing immune cells to tumors, potentially turning immunologically "cold" tumors into "hot" ones. This approach has demonstrated success in other cancer types, including uveal melanoma with Immunocore's Kimmtrak and small cell lung cancer with Amgen's Imdelltra. Parker noted that while there's still "open space and a vacuum for the best targets" in this therapeutic area, CBI-1214 has been engineered with specific protein features designed to optimize anti-tumor activity.
The company faces competition from Roche, which has a drug called linclatamig in early-stage testing that also targets the same pathway. However, Parker claims CBI-1214 may impact a broader set of colorectal tumors and induce a more potent T-cell response, stating "There's still an opportunity to build the right molecule."
Strategic Partnerships and Platform Expansion
Beyond its lead program, Cartography is developing additional early-stage programs for solid tumors through its ATLAS and SUMMIT drug discovery platforms. The company established a partnership with Gilead Sciences last year to develop treatments for triple-negative breast cancer and adenocarcinoma, securing $20 million in upfront payments.
The Series B round attracted participation from more than a dozen investors, including new participants LG Corp, Amgen Ventures, Finchley H.V., Global BioAccess Fund, and Lotte Holdings CVC, alongside existing investors Andreessen Horowitz Bio + Health, 8VC, Wing Venture Capital, and others.
Leadership and Governance Changes
As part of the financing, Michael Baran, Partner at Pfizer Ventures, joined Cartography's Board of Directors. Troy E. Wilson, who had previously served as an Independent Director, was elected as Chairman of the Board. Baran commented that "Cartography is uniquely positioned to lead the potential next generation of T-cell engagers with a novel late preclinical program for colorectal cancer."
The funding positions Cartography to advance what Baran described as a company "quickly emerging as a leader in antibody therapeutics" as it prepares to transition from a five-year-old discovery-stage biotech into a clinical-stage organization focused on addressing significant unmet needs in solid tumor oncology.
