Immunai

Immunai is a New York-based biotechnology company that maps immune system functions using single-cell immunomics and machine learning.[5][6][7] Immunai is best known for its development of the world’s largest database of clinically annotated single-cell immune data, termed “AMICA” (the Annotated Multiomic Immune Cell Atlas).[8]

Immunai, Inc.
TypePrivate
IndustryBiotechnology[1]
Founded2018[2]
Headquarters
New York, New York[3]
,
United States
Areas served
Worldwide
Key people
Luis Voloch, Noam Solomon, Ansuman Satpathy, Danny Wells[4]
Websiteimmunai.com

Background

Immunai was founded in 2018 by Luis Voloch, Noam Solomon, Ansuman Satpathy, and Danny Wells.[9] Prior to cofounding Immunai, Solomon finished post-doctoral work in mathematics at Harvard, with Larry Guth at MIT, and in engineering at Palantir Technologies.[10] Voloch, who also studied at MIT, was awarded “Best Thesis” in computer science.[11] The pair cofounded the company with Stanford University cancer immunology professor, Ansuman Satpathy, and Danny Wells, after Solomon read Wells work published in Nature Medicine that described remodeling the immune system after tumor treatment.[1]

In 2021, the company acquired Dropprint, a similar cell-level data developer, and Switzerland-based gene expression data company, Nebion.[12][13] Following the Nebion acquisition, Immunai appointed immunologist Jacques Banchereau as its CSO.[14]

The company is headquartered in New York, with much of its machine learning and software in Tel Aviv, Israel.[15] As of 2021, the company has raised $295 million from Koch Disruptive Technologies, Viola Group, TLV Partners, ICON, 8VC, Alexandria Venture Investments, Schusterman Family Investments, the Duquesne Family Office, Catalio Capital Management, Dexcel Pharma, Piedmont, and others.[16]

Technology

Immunai’s technology maps the immune system at the single cell level, using a multiomic approach that looks at the transcriptome, proteome, epigenome, and TCR/BRC information of each cell.[17] This data is used to map the human immune system.[18] The company’s technology applies machine learning to identify which targets might be most effective, and inversely, which drugs might induce toxic reactions.[5] The technology aims to predict how a patient will respond to a single or combination of potential treatments. The company’s immunological atlas, AMICA, is the largest data set for clinical immunological data. As of 2021, AMICA has mapped hundreds of millions of immune cells.[19]

In 2020, the company partnered with Baylor College of Medicine to identify a gene in CAR-NKT-mediated antitumor activity and is purposed with identifying cell therapy candidates in solid tumors.[20][21]

References
  1. "Stanford-Parker Institute Scientists Team up with Two Young Engineers in 20M AI Play with an Immunology Focus". Endpoints News. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  2. "AI and Cancer: Unlocking the Immune System (with Immunai's Luis Voloch)". Harvard Business Review. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  3. "U.S.-Israeli biotech startup Immunai raises $20 million". Reuters. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  4. "Israel's Immunai hopes to reprogram immune system with $60m. funding". JPOST. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  5. "Using machine learning, Immunai plans to map immune system". Healthcare Tech News. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  6. "Immunai unveils map of human immune system". Outsourcing Pharma. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  7. "Immunai announces a $215M Series B as its 'immune cell atlas' matures". TechCrunch. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  8. "From Atlas to Actuary: Immunai Expands Immune Mapping with $215M in Series". Genetic Engineering News. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  9. "Biotech startup Immunai earns unicorn status with $215 million Series B". Cacalis Tech. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  10. "10 Things you Didn't Know about Noam Solomon". Money Inc. 18 February 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  11. "The Top 100 MIT Alumni In Technology Of 2021". MIT Alumni Spotlight. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  12. "Immunai Acquires Dropprint Genomics". Genome Web. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  13. "Immunai acquires single-cell data developer Dropprint Genomics to build out its immune system atlas". Fierce Biotech. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  14. "Immunai Acquires Swiss Bioinformatics Firm Nebion". Genome Web. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  15. "Israeli-Found Firm Immunai Raises $215M For Its Drug Discovery Platform". No Camels. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  16. "Israeli biotech startup Immunai raises $215m for drug discovery platform". Times of Israel. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  17. "Immune Cell Profiles Reveal Cancer's Leading Indicators". Genetic Engineering News. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  18. "The 10 most innovative companies in artificial intelligence of 2022". Fast Company. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  19. "Mapping the immune system to improve autoimmune and cancer therapies". MIT Startup Exchange. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  20. "Immunai Collaborates With Baylor College of Medicine To Develop Targeted, Effective Cancer Immunotherapies". Mobile Health Times. 21 October 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  21. "CAR NKT cells offer a promising novel immunotherapy for solid tumors". Baylor College of Medicine News. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
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