News

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 15, 2023 – Cerberus Therapeutics, Inc., an early-stage biotechnology company focused on development of proprietary nanobody-based platforms to create novel immunotherapeutics, today announced the appointment of Dr. Michael Hodges, MD, an infectious disease clinician and RNA medicines drug development executive with 30 years of experience within the biopharmaceutical industry, to its Scientific Advisory Board.

“Michael has extensive experiences in the infectious diseases field, from both business and regulatory perspectives, with multiple drugs approved under his leadership in his prior pharmaceutical executive positions,” said Novalia Pishesha, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Cerberus Therapeutics. “We look forward to working with Michael to advance Cerberus’ infectious diseases programs.”

Michael is a partner at Claris Ventures a biotechnology venture capital fund based in Turin (Italy) with the mission to unlock the full potential of the Italian R&D ecosystem. He was previously the CMO of Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, developing small molecule and monoclonal antibody drug treatments for life-threatening viral and fungal infections in immunocompromised patients. The company was acquired by Pfizer, Inc. Prior to Amplyx he was the CMO and head of drug development for Santaris A/S, developing RNA targeting drug treatments for chronic viral diseases, cancer, metabolic/lipid and eye diseases. The company was acquired by Hoffman-La Roche, AG.

Michael started his career in pharmaceutical medicines with Pfizer Global Research and Development where he worked on multiple infectious diseases and oncology development programs. Under his leadership two antifungal drugs where approved, VFEND® (voriconazole) and ERAXIS™ (anidulafungin).

Michael was a Non-Executive Director of F2G Ltd., an infectious disease biotechnology company from 2010-2014. He earned his M.D. (MBBS) and BSc. in Pharmacology, from the University of London, UK.

About Cerberus Therapeutics

Founded in 2021 by Novalia Pishesha, Ph.D., Prof. Hidde Ploegh, Ph.D. and Prof. Harvey Lodish, Ph.D., Cerberus Therapeutics’ nanobody-based technology comprises two distinct platforms: one that targets autoimmunity and one aimed at infectious disease. Leveraging the unique biochemical properties and excellent targeting capabilities of alpaca-derived nanobodies (variable domains of heavy chain-only antibodies), Cerberus’ technology has the potential to reset the immune system and have it rewire itself for therapeutic gain.

Cerberus Contact:
Xiaohong Sang
617-416-6228
xsang@cerberustx.com

• Investment by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will support further development of a nanobody-based infectious disease program for flu, Covid and HIV
• Cerberus is also advancing a separate nanobody-based platform designed to induce immune tolerance and treat autoimmune diseases

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., December 5, 2023 – Cerberus Therapeutics, Inc., an early-stage biotechnology company engaged in the development of proprietary nanobody-based platforms to create novel immunotherapeutics, announced today an investment of up to $5 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (the foundation) to advance Cerberus’ infectious disease program, currently in preclinical development. The funding from the foundation is a strategic investment to test the ability of the Cerberus platform to drive durable, potent and protective immune responses, particularly at sites of pathogen entry, through the direct engagement of immune cells.

“Cerberus’ technology is a new approach to rewiring the immune system. In multiple preclinical studies, our nanobody-based protein formulations induced an immune response that, if corroborated in clinical trials, could lead to treatments of diseases that are currently inadequately addressed or for which treatment options do not exist,” said Novalia Pishesha, PhD, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Cerberus Therapeutics. “The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the world’s preeminent foundation that supports innovation to reduce the global burden of infectious disease, especially in developing countries. We are very excited to receive support from the foundation to advance our research in various infectious disease areas.”

About Cerberus Therapeutics

Founded in 2021 by Novalia Pishesha, PhD, Prof. Hidde Ploegh, PhD and Prof. Harvey Lodish, PhD, Cerberus Therapeutics’ nanobody-based technology comprises two distinct platforms: one that targets autoimmunity and one aimed at infectious disease. Leveraging the unique biochemical properties and excellent targeting capabilities of alpaca-derived nanobodies (variable domains of heavy chain-only antibodies), Cerberus’ technology has the potential to reset the immune system and have it rewire itself for therapeutic gain.

By relying on nanobodies that target major histocompatibility complex class II antigens (MHC II), Cerberus’ autoimmune platform approach engages all types of professional antigen presenting cells (dendritic cells, macrophages and B cells)¹. Application to preclinical models of multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis has shown lasting protection and therapeutic efficacy in halting the progression to disease.

Cerberus’ infectious disease approaches are based on nanobodies that recognize antibody light chains² . The company’s infectious disease adducts are “armed” with small molecule antivirals or pathogen-specific nanobodies. These adducts are designed to engage polyclonal antibodies and activate the complement system to mount a protective response to the pathogen recognized.

1 Pishesha, N., Harmand, T., Smeding, L.Y. et al. Induc8on of an8gen-specific tolerance by nanobody–an8gen adducts that target class-II major histocompa8bility complexes. Nat Biomed Eng 5, 1389–1401 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-021-00738-5
2 Xin Liu et al. An armed an8-immunoglobulin light chain nanobody protects mice against influenza A and B infections. Sci. Immunol. 8,eadg9459(2023). doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.adg9459

Cerberus Contact:
Xiaohong Sang
617-416-6228
xsang@cerberustx.com

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., January 3, 2024 – Cerberus Therapeutics, Inc., an early-stage biotechnology company focused on development of proprietary nanobody-based platforms to create novel immunotherapeutics, today announced the appointment of Jim Weissman, former Chief Operating Officer and Chief Business Officer of Dicerna Pharmaceuticals Inc., to its Board of Directors.

“Jim is a veteran pharmaceutical executive with decades of experiences in business development and deal makings,” said Novalia Pishesha, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Cerberus Therapeutics. “I look forward to working with Jim and leveraging his unique expertise to help Cerberus navigate through our business development and partnering strategy.”

Mr. Weissman was most recently the COO and CBO of Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, acquired by Novo Nordisk in December 2021. Prior to Dicerna, he was Vice President of Mankind Corporation. Prior to MannKind, Mr. Weissman held leadership positions in both business development and marketing at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Tokyo, most recently as senior director of marketing. In this position, Mr. Weissman was responsible for the sales, profit and strategic targets for the company’s specialty products, including CNS, endocrinology, ophthalmology, oncology and diversified portfolios. Mr. Weissman holds a Bachelor of Science from Bates College in Maine.

About Cerberus Therapeutics

Founded in 2021 by Novalia Pishesha, Ph.D., Prof. Hidde Ploegh, Ph.D. and Prof. Harvey Lodish, Ph.D., Cerberus Therapeutics’ nanobody-based technology comprises two distinct platforms: one that targets autoimmunity and one aimed at infectious disease. Leveraging the unique biochemical properties and excellent targeting capabilities of alpaca-derived nanobodies (variable domains of heavy chain-only antibodies), Cerberus’ technology has the potential to reset the immune system and have it rewire itself for therapeutic gain.

Cerberus Contact:
Xiaohong Sang
617-416-6228
xsang@cerberustx.com

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., December 8, 2022 – Cerberus Therapeutics, Inc., an early-stage biotechnology company focused on development of proprietary nanobody-based platforms to create novel immunotherapeutics, today announced the appointment of Dr. David Hafler, a world-renowned expert on multiple sclerosis (“MS”) and Chair of the Department of Neurology at Yale School of Medicine, to its Scientific Advisory Board.

“Dr. Hafler has been a pioneer in the understanding and treatment of MS through his lab at Yale. He is an authority on the mechanisms of autoimmunity and inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system,” said Dr. Hidde Ploegh, Chair of Scientific Advisory Board and Co-Founder of Cerberus Therapeutics. “I am very excited to work with Dr. Hafler to further development of our antigen specific tolerance platform.”

About Cerberus Therapeutics

Founded in 2021 by Novalia Pishesha, Ph.D., Prof. Hidde Ploegh, Ph.D. and Prof. Harvey Lodish, Ph.D., Cerberus Therapeutics’ nanobody-based technology comprises two distinct platforms: one that targets autoimmunity and one aimed at infectious disease. Leveraging the unique biochemical properties and excellent targeting capabilities of alpaca-derived nanobodies (variable domains of heavy chain-only antibodies), Cerberus’ technology has the potential to reset the immune system and have it rewire itself for therapeutic gain.

Cerberus Contact:
Xiaohong Sang
617-416-6228
xsang@cerberustx.com

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., October 26, 2022 – Cerberus Therapeutics, Inc., an early-stage biotechnology company focused on development of proprietary nanobody-based platforms to create novel immunotherapeutics, today announced the appointment of Michael L. Dougan, an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and the Director of the Immunotherapy Mucosal Toxicities Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, to its Scientific Advisory Board.

“Dr. Dougan is a leading expert on immune regulation in the gastrointestinal tract. His research focus of translating immune mechanisms into novel treatment for inflammatory diseases of the gut will provide invaluable insights for Cerberus, especially as the company further dives into autoimmune disease areas like Celiac disease.” said Novalia Pishesha, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Cerberus Therapeutics.

About Cerberus Therapeutics

Founded in 2021 by Novalia Pishesha, Ph.D., Prof. Hidde Ploegh, Ph.D. and Prof. Harvey Lodish, Ph.D., Cerberus Therapeutics’ nanobody-based technology comprises two distinct platforms: one that targets autoimmunity and one aimed at infectious disease. Leveraging the unique biochemical properties and excellent targeting capabilities of alpaca-derived nanobodies (variable domains of heavy chain-only antibodies), Cerberus’ technology has the potential to reset the immune system and have it rewire itself for therapeutic gain.

Cerberus Contact:
Xiaohong Sang
617-416-6228
xsang@cerberustx.com

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., December 8, 2022 – Cerberus Therapeutics, Inc., an early-stage biotechnology company focused on development of proprietary nanobody-based platforms to create novel immunotherapeutics, announced today the closing of seed investment of $4 million from Sherpa Healthcare Partners. The proceeds will enable Cerberus to advance its antigen specific tolerance program, currently in preclinical development.

“Unlike traditional approaches to suppress immune responses, Cerberus’ antigen specific tolerance technology engages all types of professional antigen presenting cells to activate the complex immune networks, leading the system to re-wire itself and potentially presenting a cure to many devastating autoimmune diseases,” said Novalia Pishesha, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Cerberus Therapeutics. “The seed investment from Sherpa will allow Cerberus to advance its pre-clinical work in multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and AAV tolerance approach.”

About Cerberus Therapeutics

Founded in 2021 by Novalia Pishesha, Ph.D., Prof. Hidde Ploegh, Ph.D. and Prof. Harvey Lodish, Ph.D., Cerberus Therapeutics’ nanobody-based technology comprises two distinct platforms: one that targets autoimmunity and one aimed at infectious disease. Leveraging the unique biochemical properties and excellent targeting capabilities of alpaca-derived nanobodies (variable domains of heavy chain-only antibodies), Cerberus’ technology has the potential to reset the immune system and have it rewire itself for therapeutic gain.

Cerberus Contact:
Xiaohong Sang
617-416-6228
xsang@cerberustx.com