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Antares Therapeutics
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Develops precision oncology therapeutics and pipelines
Antares Therapeutics
Work Here?
Develops precision oncology therapeutics and pipelines
Overview
Antares Therapeutics focuses on developing precision oncology medicines. It advances targeted cancer therapies by leveraging Scorpion Therapeutics’ discovery platform acquired by Lilly, using its validated pipeline and leadership with deep oncology experience to guide research and development. The company works by identifying cancer-specific targets and creating therapies that act on those targets, followed by clinical validation and eventual commercialization in advanced cancer indications. Its differentiation comes from access to Scorpion’s discovery capabilities, the support and resources of Lilly, and a leadership team with experience in oncology and life sciences, enabling a science-driven approach to push the boundaries of precision medicine. Antares aims to shape the future of precision oncology by delivering transformative treatments that can improve outcomes for cancer patients.
About Antares Therapeutics
Industries
Biotechnology
Healthcare
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
Growth Equity (Non-Venture Capital)
Total Funding
$282M
Headquarters
Boston, Massachusetts
Founded
2025
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Novartis signed June 24, 2026, paying $105 million upfront and up to $1.8 billion.
- Antares launched with $177 million on June 10, 2025, funding clinical entry in 2026.
- Pierre Fabre and AstraZeneca collaborations broaden validation beyond Novartis and de-risk platform perception.
What critics are saying
- Antares has no approved products, so the June 2026 Novartis options drive valuation.
- Lilly kept STX-478, leaving Antares with less differentiated assets after March 2025.
- If the 2026 lead trial disappoints, Novartis walks and Antares faces a financing crisis.
What makes Antares Therapeutics unique
- Antares launched June 10, 2025 from Scorpion's pipeline, team, and discovery engine.
- Adam Friedman and Scorpion veterans focus on historically undruggable oncology targets with small molecules.
- Lilly's March 2025 Scorpion acquisition validated the platform before Antares inherited remaining assets.
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Funding
Total Funding
$282M
Above
Industry Average
Funded Over
2 Rounds
Lightspeed Venture PartnersBenefits
Hybrid Work Options
Performance Bonus
Company Equity
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 4%1 year growth
↑ 4%2 year growth
↑ 8%– Multi-target collaboration will leverage Antares’ proprietary discovery engine to generate highly selective small molecule medicines against historically undruggable oncology targets –
Novartis will pay biotechnology startup Antares Therapeutics $105 million upfront in a multi-target research collaboration to discover new cancer medicines. Antares could receive up to $1.8 billion in additional milestone payments and low double-digit royalties on resulting products. Antares is a spinout of Scorpion Therapeutics that launched last year, developing experimental medicines left behind after Eli Lilly acquired one of Scorpion's drugs for up to $2.5 billion. The company also has research collaborations with Pierre Fabre Laboratories and AstraZeneca. The deal represents Novartis's latest effort to expand its oncology pipeline beyond radiopharmaceuticals, following recent acquisitions of MorphoSys and Mariana Oncology in 2024. Antares plans to advance its first precision oncology medicine into clinical trials later this year.
Novartis has agreed to pay up to $1.9 billion to partner with Antares Therapeutics on discovering small molecule therapies for previously undruggable cancers. The deal includes $105 million upfront and up to $1.8 billion in milestone payments and royalties. Antares, which spun out from Scorpion Therapeutics in June 2025 with $177 million in Series A funding, will lead research using its proprietary drug discovery platform. The company applies compound libraries, mass spectrometry technology and pocket-finding approaches to tackle challenging oncology targets. Antares' lead precision oncology programme is expected to enter clinical trials in 2026. Novartis will have the option to license assets developed under the collaboration. Oncology generated $16.8 billion for Novartis in 2025, an 18% increase and its largest therapeutic segment.
Antares Therapeutics, Inc. (“Antares”), a biotechnology company developing first-in-class precision medicines for cancer and other serious diseases, launched...
BOSTON, MA, USA I June 10, 2025 I Antares Therapeutics, Inc. ("Antares"), a biotechnology company developing first-in-class precision medicines for cancer and other serious diseases, launched today with $177 million in Series A financing.
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About Antares Therapeutics
Industries
Biotechnology
Healthcare
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
Growth Equity (Non-Venture Capital)
Total Funding
$282M
Headquarters
Boston, Massachusetts
Founded
2025
Antares Therapeutics is Hiring for 5 Jobs on Simplify!
Find jobs on Simplify and start your career today