Cytospire secures $83 million to develop pan-gamma delta T-cell engagers

Cytospire, a British biotechnology startup, announced it raised £61 million, about $83 million, to fund the development of a new type of T-cell engager therapy.

The company is targeting a "pan-gamma delta" approach that seeks to recruit gamma‑delta T cells, a distinct subset of immune cells that can quickly respond to diseased cells.

CEO Natalie Mount said gamma‑delta T cells are already present within the tumor microenvironment, the immunosuppressive barrier that tumors create, which may make them more effective than the conventional CD3‑targeting T-cell engagers. She also highlighted their ability to better differentiate tumor antigens from healthy tissue.

Cytospire hopes this strategy will address limitations seen with existing T-cell engager drugs, many of which are approved for blood cancers and are being tested for solid tumors.