Cartography Biosciences Pushes Sequencing Boundaries to Uncover Elusive Drug Targets

In a landscape where pharmaceutical companies are increasingly risk-averse, focusing on late-stage programs, one startup is championing the search for novel drug targets. Cartography Biosciences, founded by CEO Kevin Parker during the COVID-19 lockdowns, is leveraging advanced gene sequencing techniques to identify potential therapeutic targets that have eluded traditional methods.

Revolutionizing Target Discovery with Single-Cell Sequencing

Cartography's approach addresses a fundamental challenge in drug discovery: finding rare but significant cellular populations within complex tissues. Parker likens this to "looking for bananas in a smoothie with 100 apples." The company's technology allows for a more nuanced view of cellular biology, potentially leading to safer and more effective drugs.

Traditional bulk sequencing methods often miss critical genetic variations present in small subpopulations of cells. Cartography's single-cell sequencing technology, however, can detect these variations with unprecedented precision. This capability is particularly crucial in diseases like cancer, where a mutation in just 1% of tumor cells could be driving the disease.

From COVID Lockdowns to $67 Million Series B

Parker's journey from graduate student to biotech CEO is a testament to the power of innovation born from constraints. Locked out of his Stanford University lab during the pandemic, Parker saw an opportunity to redirect his research towards more patient-centric outcomes. This pivot led to the founding of Cartography Biosciences, which has now secured a $67 million Series B funding round to advance its pipeline.

The company's rapid growth is evident in the scale of its sequencing operations. Parker notes that Cartography's current capabilities are two orders of magnitude larger than what existed in 2020. This technological leap has attracted significant industry attention, including a partnership with Gilead Sciences signed in 2024, which included a $20 million upfront payment for target discovery in triple-negative breast cancer and lung adenocarcinoma.

Targeting the Future: Dual-Target Anti-Cancer Medications

Cartography's ambitions extend beyond single-target therapies. The company is now focusing on developing dual-targeting anti-cancer medications, a frontier that Parker believes represents the future of the field. "It's hard enough to find single targets, but it's almost impossible to find target pairs from bulk data," Parker explains. This approach could lead to highly specific and effective cancer treatments.

The company's lead molecule, CBI-1214, exemplifies this strategy. It's a T cell engager targeting a marker that Cartography claims is minimally expressed on healthy cells, potentially offering a more targeted approach to treating colorectal cancers.

As the pharmaceutical industry grapples with a perceived shortage of novel targets, Cartography Biosciences stands at the forefront of a new wave of discovery. By pushing the boundaries of sequencing technology, the company aims to uncover the "bananas" hidden within the complex cellular landscape, potentially ushering in a new era of drug development.