Enara Bio – Pioneering Cancer Immunotherapy by Illuminating the Dark Genome
Enara Bio is a leading biotechnology company based in Oxford, United Kingdom, at the heart of one of the world’s most innovative scientific hubs. Established in 2016, the company has rapidly emerged as a visionary in cancer immunotherapy, focusing on areas of the human genome that were previously unexplored — often referred to as the “dark genome”. By uncovering novel antigens hidden within this genomic dark matter, Enara Bio aims to develop revolutionary treatments for patients suffering from solid tumours, offering hope where conventional therapies have struggled to succeed.
With its headquarters in the Magdalen Centre, The Oxford Science Park, Enara Bio continues to drive forward a scientific mission that bridges cutting-edge discovery with practical, life-changing outcomes. Its official website, www.enarabio.com, provides insights into the company’s ongoing research, its team, and its purpose.
Founding and Vision
Enara Bio was founded in 2016 by George Kassiotis, Drew Pardoll, and Houman Ashrafian, three pioneers united by a shared belief that cancer immunotherapy could reach new frontiers if scientists ventured beyond traditional genetic targets. These founders brought together expertise from immunology, oncology, and translational medicine, building the scientific foundation for what would become one of the UK’s most promising biotech ventures.
Their vision was bold yet simple: to harness the body’s immune system to recognise and destroy cancer cells by focusing on tumour-specific markers that exist beyond the reach of conventional therapies. This innovative concept has positioned Enara Bio as a company redefining the rules of immunotherapy, particularly in the complex world of solid tumours.
What Makes Enara Bio Unique
Exploring the Unconventional
Enara Bio’s mission is encapsulated in its core belief — advancing cancer immunotherapy by targeting the unconventional. While traditional research has long focused on the protein-coding regions of the genome, Enara Bio explores what lies beyond: the non-coding or “dark” regions. These areas, once dismissed as biologically inactive, have now been shown to harbour a treasure trove of potential tumour-specific antigens.
By focusing on this hidden genetic territory, Enara Bio has uncovered a new class of molecular targets known as Dark Antigens®, which are highly specific to cancer cells. This discovery opens the door to more precise and potentially safer cancer treatments.
Core Technologies at Enara Bio
The EDAPT® Platform
The EDAPT® platform lies at the heart of Enara Bio’s innovation. It enables scientists to systematically identify Dark Antigens — novel proteins derived from uncharted genomic regions — that are expressed exclusively or predominantly in tumour cells. Through advanced bioinformatics, high-throughput sequencing, and immunological validation, EDAPT® builds a growing library of cancer-specific targets.
The platform’s strength lies in its ability to detect shared antigens across patient groups, meaning that therapies developed through EDAPT® could potentially treat broad populations rather than being limited to individualised, patient-specific approaches.
The EnTiCE® Platform
Once these Dark Antigens are identified, Enara Bio uses its EnTiCE® platform to design bispecific T-cell engager therapies. These engineered molecules act as a bridge between a patient’s immune cells and their cancer cells, enabling the immune system to recognise and kill tumours with high precision.
Together, EDAPT® and EnTiCE® form a seamless discovery-to-therapy pipeline — one that combines deep genomic analysis with advanced immunoengineering to tackle some of the most treatment-resistant cancers.
Headquarters and Company Overview
Enara Bio’s headquarters are located at The Magdalen Centre, The Oxford Science Park, 1 Robert Robinson Avenue, Oxford OX4 4GA, United Kingdom. The company operates in the biotechnology sector and employs between 51 and 200 professionals, ranging from molecular biologists and immunologists to translational medicine experts and clinical strategists.
Operating from one of Europe’s most dynamic science clusters allows Enara Bio to collaborate with world-class academic institutions and industry partners. The Oxford Science Park setting provides access to a thriving network of innovation, ensuring Enara Bio remains at the cutting edge of biomedical research and technology.
Partnerships and Collaborations
Strategic Collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim
A key milestone in Enara Bio’s journey was the establishment of a strategic partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim, a global leader in pharmaceutical innovation. This collaboration focuses on the discovery of shared tumour antigens through the EDAPT® platform, with the goal of developing novel cancer immunotherapies for diseases such as lung and gastrointestinal cancers.
This partnership not only validates Enara Bio’s scientific approach but also provides a strong commercial pathway for bringing its discoveries to patients worldwide. Through collaborations like this, Enara Bio aims to accelerate the transition from laboratory breakthroughs to clinically available treatments.
Funding and Investor Support
Enara Bio has received robust backing from an impressive syndicate of global life-science investors. Its supporters include RA Capital Management, Pfizer Ventures, M Ventures (the venture arm of Merck KGaA), Samsara BioCapital, SV Health Investors, and the Francis Crick Institute.
In October 2024, Enara Bio successfully closed a US $32.5 million Series B financing round, led by Pfizer Ventures and M Ventures. This infusion of capital is intended to accelerate the company’s transition from discovery to clinical development, enabling the advancement of its first-in-class T-cell-based immunotherapies.
This level of investment underscores global confidence in Enara Bio’s science and strategy, confirming its position as one of the most promising UK biotech companies in oncology research.
Leadership and Management
The company is led by Kevin Pojasek, President and Chief Executive Officer, who has more than two decades of experience in biotechnology and pharmaceutical innovation. Under his leadership, Enara Bio has matured from a research-driven startup into a clinically focused company with clear translational goals.
Supporting him is Dr Joseph Dukes, Chief Scientific Officer, an expert in T-cell immunology and bispecific therapy development, and Dr Sophie Papa, Chief Medical Officer, a practising oncologist and recognised authority in translational cancer immunotherapy.
The company’s governance is strengthened by experienced industry figures, including Robert Ang as Chair of the Board. In 2025, Enara Bio further enhanced its executive team with new senior appointments, demonstrating its readiness to scale and deliver on its clinical ambitions.
Challenges and Opportunities
While Enara Bio’s technology holds enormous promise, it also faces the typical challenges of cutting-edge biotechnology. Translating novel antigen discoveries into safe, effective, and regulatory-approved medicines requires rigorous validation and clinical proof. Solid tumours, in particular, pose unique barriers such as immune suppression and tumour heterogeneity.
Nevertheless, the potential rewards are immense. If Enara Bio can demonstrate consistent tumour specificity, low off-target toxicity, and clinical efficacy, its Dark Antigen approach could redefine the landscape of cancer immunotherapy and open entirely new therapeutic pathways.
The Future of Enara Bio
Enara Bio’s future looks bright. With a strong scientific foundation, strategic partnerships, and committed investors, the company is positioned to bring the first generation of Dark Antigen-based therapies into human trials. The next few years will be crucial as the company moves from pre-clinical research into the clinic, generating the evidence needed to validate its revolutionary concept.
Beyond therapy development, Enara Bio’s discoveries may also expand our broader understanding of the genome and its role in disease. The concept of mining the dark genome is likely to influence future research across oncology, immunology, and even genetic diagnostics.
So Here’s What You Should Take Away from Today
Enara Bio stands as a beacon of innovation in the fight against cancer. Founded in 2016 by visionaries George Kassiotis, Drew Pardoll, and Houman Ashrafian, this Oxford-based biotechnology company has carved out a unique niche by focusing on previously unexplored genomic territories. Through its EDAPT® and EnTiCE® platforms, Enara Bio is uncovering and targeting Dark Antigens — a new frontier in immunotherapy.
With its headquarters in the Oxford Science Park, a talented team of over fifty specialists, and powerful global partnerships, Enara Bio exemplifies the future of UK biotechnology. Supported by some of the most respected names in life-science investment, the company is advancing towards a new era where cancer can be treated with unprecedented precision.
Enara Bio is not just a biotech company; it is a scientific movement determined to illuminate what was once hidden in the dark — and in doing so, to bring light to millions of lives.
