Clasp Therapeutics

Clasp Therapeutics is a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of precision immuno-oncology treatments through next-generation T-cell engagers (TCEs). The company’s proprietary pHLAre™ platform (precise HLA redirecting engagers) is designed to target tumor-specific oncogenic driver mutations—such as those in p53 and KRAS—that are presented by human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules on the surface of cancer cells. By focusing on these intracellular mutations, Clasp aims to overcome the toxicity and efficacy limitations of traditional TCEs that often target antigens also found on healthy tissue. Formed in 2020 and emerging from stealth in early 2024, the company leverages over a decade of research from prominent Johns Hopkins University scientists. Its therapeutic approach involves bispecific antibody-like molecules that simultaneously bind to a specific mutant peptide-HLA complex on the tumor and the CD3 receptor on T cells. This dual-binding mechanism triggers a potent immune response specifically against the tumor, sparing healthy cells and potentially offering a wider therapeutic window for patients with hard-to-treat solid tumors.