# Larkspur Biosciences

> Larkspur Biosciences is a Cambridge, Massachusetts precision-oncology company building first-in-class small molecule protein degraders that attack cancer cells where they are most vulnerable. Using its machine-learning-enabled LarkX platform to pinpoint 'cancer cell fitness' genes, Larkspur designs drugs that trigger tumor-intrinsic cell death and disrupt how cancers hide from the immune system. Its lead candidate, LRK-4189, degrades the lipid kinase PIP4K2C and entered first-in-human Phase 1 testing in December 2025 for microsatellite stable colorectal cancer.

- **Founded:** 2022
- **Headquarters:** Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- **Founders:** Lewis C. Cantley (Scientific Co-Founder (discoverer of PI3K; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)), Nathanael Gray (Scientific Co-Founder & Board Member (Stanford University)), Vijay K. Kuchroo (Scientific Co-Founder (Harvard University; serial biotech founder))
- **Team size:** ~19 employees
- **Products:** LRK-4189, LarkX Platform, Pin1 Degrader Program, TIM-1 Program
- **Notable:** Launched in May 2023 with $35.5M in combined seed and Series A financing., Founded by three prominent academic scientists: Lewis Cantley, Nathanael Gray, and Vijay Kuchroo., Discovered LRK-4189, the first reported degrader of the lipid kinase PIP4K2C, presented at the ACS Fall 2025 Meeting.

## Products & services

- **LRK-4189** — Lead program: a first-in-class oral targeted protein degrader of the lipid kinase PIP4K2C. Degradation (not inhibition) triggers intrinsic cancer cell death through multiple killing mechanisms, developed initially for microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer and other solid tumors. Entered Phase 1 first-in-human study in December 2025.
- **LarkX Platform** — Proprietary machine-learning-enabled gene signature platform that identifies pathways with cancer cell-intrinsic stress adaptations, enabling discovery of novel protein degradation targets among 'cancer fitness genes.'
- **Pin1 Degrader Program** — First-in-class degrader targeting Pin1, in lead optimization, aimed at modulating fibroblast differentiation to reactivate immune cells in cancer and fibrosis.
- **TIM-1 Program** — Early lead-discovery program targeting TIM-1, advanced as a joint venture with Alloy Therapeutics (Tiburon Therapeutics).

## Achievements

- Launched in May 2023 with $35.5M in combined seed and Series A financing.
- Founded by three prominent academic scientists: Lewis Cantley, Nathanael Gray, and Vijay Kuchroo.
- Discovered LRK-4189, the first reported degrader of the lipid kinase PIP4K2C, presented at the ACS Fall 2025 Meeting.
- Completed IND-enabling studies and initiated first-in-human Phase 1 dosing of LRK-4189 in December 2025, on its stated Q4 2025 timeline.
- Built a machine-learning gene-signature discovery platform (LarkX) and a multi-program pipeline within ~2 years.
- Operates with an all-female senior leadership team in a male-dominated industry.

## Latest updates

- **2025-12** — First participant dosed in the Phase 1 first-in-human clinical study of LRK-4189, a first-in-class PIP4K2C targeted protein degrader.
- **2025-08** — Announced discovery of LRK-4189 at the ACS Fall 2025 Meeting and guided to initiating a Phase 1 trial in Q4 2025.
- **2023-05** — Launched publicly with $35.5M in seed and Series A financing led by Polaris Innovation Fund, 3E Bioventures Capital, and Takeda Ventures.

## Links

- Website: https://larkspur.bio
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/larkspurbio
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/LarkspurBio

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/larkspur-biosciences
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Last updated: 2026-06-14