Re-engineering innate immune activation

Improving cancer immunotherapy

Our Mission

Saros is developing, and through partnerships commercializing, novel immunotherapies to improve and extend the lives of patients with cancer.

The Science

Saros has developed a nanoparticle capable of safely targeting and enhancing pathways of innate immune activation.

Beginning with STING, the nanoparticle can overcome challenges of prior agonists. Our drug is targeting tumor tissue as well as macrophages and dendritic cells which is where the STING pathway needs to be activated. By working with multiple STING agonists and TLR agonists, Saros has demonstrated the breadth of the platform.

Mechanistic studies as well as head-to-head comparison with other STING activating agents demonstrates superiority of this approach. The biodistribution, and toxicology data supports the expected safety.

Sun, X., Zhang, Y., Li, J. et al “Amplifying STING activation by cyclic dinucleotide-manganese particles for local and systemic cancer metalloimmunotherapy,” Nature Nanotechnology, 16, 1260-1270 (2021).

Sun, X., Zhou, X., Lei, Y., Moon, J., “Unlocking the promise of systemic STING agonist for cancer immunotherapy,” Journal of Controlled Release, 357, 417-421 (2023).

Saros promotes objectivity in its research. See our financial conflict of interest policy.

Multiple pre-clinical models in mice, rabbits, and human cell lines support the efficacy and safety of our first agent.

Meet the Team

  • Matthew Martin, PhD, MBA

    Co-Founder, CEO

    • Venture partner at Pathway Bioventures

    • Biotech entrepreneur experienced in spinning technologies out from universities

  • Rich Johnson, PhD

    Co-Founder, VP of Development

    • Academic training in biochemistry and immunology

    • 28 years leading biopharma R&D groups from discovery to preclinical development

  • Dominique Kendrick, RPh, RAC, MBA

    Co-Founder, SVP of Regulatory Affairs

    • Led regulatory strategy, development, submission, and launch of 80+ products

    • 25 years of executive leadership experience in public and private companies

  • Prof. James Moon, PhD

    Co-Founder, Chief Scientific Officer

    • Professor of Pharma. Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan

    • Research focus on cancer immunotherapy

Science Advisory Board

  • Prof. Yu Leo Lei, DDS, PhD

    Co-Founder, Clinical and pre-clinical advisor

    • Associate Professor of Dentistry and of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery

    • ABOMP-certified Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist

    • NCI Moonshot Immuno-Oncology Translational Network Steering Committee Member

    • Research focuses on the molecular regulation of innate immune pathways

  • Jason Luke, MD

    Clinical Advisor

    • Medical Oncologist, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

    • Experienced clinical trial advisor to multiple big pharma and small biotech companies

    • Deep clinical experience with STING programs

  • Robert Petit, MD, PhD

    Co-Founder, Clinical and pre-clinical advisor

    • Co-Founder of prior immuno-oncology biotech companies

    • Experience public and private CMO & CSO

    • US Medical Lead for Yervoy at BMS

    • Deep clinical experience, 30+ trials and 6 NDA/BLAs

  • Andrew Bush, PhD

    Pre-Clinical Advisor

    • Head of research at Radyus Research

    • NYU PhD in pharmacology

    • 20+ years of immuno-oncology focus

    • Oncology experience from BMS and Regeneron

  • Susan Ciotti, PhD

    Manufacturing

    · 25+ years of experience in CMC development and cGMP manufacturing including LNP development

    · Extensive LNP development experience.

    · Responsible for CMC dossier preparation for regulatory filings at all stages

  • Michael Belliveau, PhD

    Intellectual Property

    • Partner at Clark + Elbing

    • Harvard PhD in neurobiology

    • Practice focused on patent prosecution and diligence for investing or M&A

    • Expertise in lipid nanoparticle systems