BioCentury
ARTICLE | Emerging Company Profile

Two leases on LIF

How Northern targets both tumor immunosuppression and self-renewal

September 21, 2017 12:55 PM UTC

While most immuno-oncology products in the clinic target the immunosuppressive factors that help tumors evade an attack, Northern Biologics Inc.'s anti-LIF antibody takes a step further. By simultaneously blocking both immunosuppression and self-renewal of cancer stem cells the newco expects the antibody to be effective against a wider range of cancers than other immuno-oncology programs.

Northern was launched in 2014 by Versant Ventures to develop cancer and fibrosis therapies, but for strategic reasons merged in December 2016 with another Versant start-up, cancer play Mosaic Biomedicals S.L. ...