Bildnachweis: Pexels, Disco Pharmaceuticals, RTZ.
Cologne-based biotech start-up Disco Pharmaceuticals is taking a new approach to cancer therapy: using innovative cell-surface mapping to develop selective cancer therapeutics.
Malignant cells carry highly specific target structures on their surface. Developers of novel cancer therapies are leveraging these structural characteristics to achieve high efficacy while minimising side effects. Cologne-based biotechnology company Disco Pharmaceuticals is spearheading the discovery of novel targets and developing selective cancer therapies. The company was founded in Cologne in 2022 as a spin-off of ETH Zurich under the leadership of Prof. Dr Roman Thomas. The scientific basis for its technology is rooted in research conducted by co-founder Prof. Dr Bernd Wollscheid. Disco Pharmaceuticals uses a proprietary plat- form to map the ‘surfaceome’ the complete set of target proteins found on the surface of cancer cells, including their spatial proximity to one another. The aim is to identify pairs of proximal target proteins that are co-expressed on cancer cells and mutually exclusive on healthy cells. Based on these findings, the company is developing AND gated bispecific antibody-based therapeutics. These drugs are designed to selectively act only when both target proteins are bound simultaneously. Healthy cells carrying only one of the target proteins remain unaffected.
Preparing for clinical trials
Pharmaceuticals
In recent months, the biotech company has made significant operational progress in advancing its pipeline. At the turn of the year, Disco entered a partnership with US pharmaceutical company Amgen and finalised a EUR 36 million seed financing round. The round was led by Ackermans & van Haaren and NRW.Bank, with existing investors Sofinnova Partners, AbbVie Ventures, M Ventures and Panakès Partners participating as well. As part of the financing, Dr Mark Manfredi took over as Chief Executive Officer. ‘Finalising our partnership with Amgen is an important milestone that validates the potential of our platform,’ says Ajla Hrle, CBO of Disco Pharmaceuticals.
Disco Pharmaceuticals
The licensing agreement has a potential total value of up to USD 618 million, plus tiered royalties. The company is now focusing on translating its lead programmes into the clinic. Key areas of focus include therapies for small-cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer. ‘For our lead programmes in small-cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer, we will initiate the relevant steps towards preclinical development in 2027,’ says Dr Johannes Heuckmann, COO and co-founder of Disco Pharmaceuticals. To finance these preclinical development activities and the first patient studies, management is planning a series A financing round in the coming months. Target discovery will remain primarily based at the company’s Swiss site in Schlieren near Zurich, while therapeutic development will be driven forward in Cologne.
Business incubation and laboratory infrastructure at RTZ
RTZ
Disco Pharmaceuticals conducts its research and development activities at the Rechtsrheinisches Technologie- und Gründerzentrum Köln (RTZ). The city-owned company supports technology-driven start-ups with an ideal environment designed to foster their business growth. ‘The RTZ initially provides the structural and technical infrastructure required for genetic engineering laboratory work, such as that needed by Disco. We offer a fully operational laboratory, which is indeed essential to the company’s success,’ explains RTZ Managing Director André van Hall. ‘Ultimately, facilities such as the RTZ are intended to future-proof Cologne as a leading location for innovation and technology by attracting start-ups and companies,’ van Hall adds. Beyond creating jobs and values, he sees the RTZ as a place where solutions to the major societal challenges are developed, such as the fight against cancer. The company’s integration into Cologne’s innovation ecosystem, combined with its proximity to regional universities and the RTZ’s sister location, BioCampus Cologne, is also expected to support future scaling.
