Syantra, Inc., a Calgary-based biotechnology company, announced the launch of a new therapeutic division dedicated to developing first-in-class immuno-oncology therapies aimed at reversing cancer-related immune cell corruption and restoring anti-cancer immunity. The announcement, made on September 4, 2025, represents a strategic expansion beyond the company's existing cancer detection capabilities.
Platform Technology and Therapeutic Approach
The new therapeutic division builds upon Syantra's patent-pending Onco-ID™ platform, which leverages signals sent by the body's immune system to detect the presence of an active cancer signature. According to CEO Rob Lozuk, the company has recognized that "the same biological mechanisms we use to detect early stage cancers could be adapted to identify new drug targets and create new paths to treatment."
The therapeutic approach focuses on tumor-immune reprogramming, addressing what Principal Scientist Olesya Kharenko, PhD, describes as tumor "education" of immune cells. "Our research has shown that tumors, in a sense, 'educate' the body's immune cells and thereby reduce or even eliminate those cells' ability to combat disease," Kharenko explained.
Drug Discovery and Target Identification
Syantra's proprietary laboratory models enable the company to replicate a person's biology and discover new targets that can reduce or potentially reverse tumor education. "Through the biological basis of Onco-ID, we are able to replicate a person's biology in proprietary laboratory models and discover new targets that can reduce or perhaps even reverse tumor education," Kharenko stated.
Lozuk indicated that the company has "advanced this work to the point of some specific targets and approaches," though specific details about these targets were not disclosed in the announcement.
Broader Platform Applications
Beyond drug discovery, the Syantra platform offers potential applications in patient selection and treatment monitoring, which may improve therapeutic outcomes. "Simply put, through the Syantra platform, we can detect, record, decode, and report on shifts in an individual's physiological systems, and connect them to specific diseases. This can support early detection all the way through treatment in the clinical journey," Lozuk explained.
Ongoing Clinical Development and Funding
Alongside the therapeutic division launch, Syantra continues clinical testing of its pioneering multi-target whole blood mRNA test, with an updated version scheduled for release this fall. The company has secured additional funding from both existing and new investors to support platform extensibility and commercialization efforts.
"This ongoing wave of innovation in markets primed for disruption has caught the eye of both the medical and investing communities," Lozuk noted. The company has completed several rounds of patent filings with additional applications forthcoming, accompanied by the new funding round.
Commercial Outlook
Lozuk emphasized the company's mission to integrate both early cancer detection and innovative treatment into everyday healthcare. "With each milestone we pass, we get closer to global commercialization and — more importantly — fulfilment of the mission to make early cancer detection, and now innovative treatment, part of everyday healthcare," he stated.
