# Tentarix Biotherapeutics

> Tentarix Biotherapeutics is a San Diego biotech building conditionally active, multispecific biologics that switch on only at the cells where they are needed. Its proprietary stack - the VH-Select stabilized human VH scaffold, Tentacles multifunctional molecules, and the FunctionSeq mammalian-display screening engine - lets the company discover therapies with high cell selectivity and a wider therapeutic index across oncology, immuno-oncology, and autoimmune disease. Backed by Versant Ventures, Samsara BioCapital, Amplitude Ventures, and Gilead Sciences, and partnered with AbbVie and Gilead.

- **Founded:** 2020
- **Headquarters:** San Diego, California, United States
- **Founders:** Paul Grayson (Co-founder, President & CEO), Stephen Demarest (Co-founder, Chief Scientific Officer), Margaret Karow (Co-founder, Chief Development Officer), Michael Gallo (Co-founder, Chief Technology Officer), Paul Kang (Co-founder, SVP Corporate Development)
- **Team size:** ~55 employees
- **Products:** VH-Select, Tentacles, FunctionSeq
- **Notable:** Raised approximately $93M total across Series A and Series B., Signed a three-program platform deal with Gilead Sciences worth ~$66M upfront plus option payments., Signed an oncology and immunology collaboration with AbbVie in 2024.

## Products & services

- **VH-Select** — A stabilized, fully human VH scaffold spanning all 47 functional human VH genes, engineered for thermal stability and developability so binders can be discovered against targets previously considered too difficult.
- **Tentacles** — Multifunctional, conditionally active biologic molecules designed to selectively engage specific cell types - the company's core therapeutic format.
- **FunctionSeq** — A mammalian-display and flow-cytometry/next-generation-sequencing screening platform that enables high-throughput discovery of molecules optimized for both function and conditionality from large libraries.

## Achievements

- Raised approximately $93M total across Series A and Series B.
- Signed a three-program platform deal with Gilead Sciences worth ~$66M upfront plus option payments.
- Signed an oncology and immunology collaboration with AbbVie in 2024.
- Engineered VH-Select to cover all 47 functional human VH genes with enhanced stability.
- Built FunctionSeq to screen millions of multifunctional molecules for both activity and conditionality.

## Latest updates

- **2024-02** — Announced collaboration with AbbVie to develop conditionally-active, multi-specific biologics for oncology and immunology.
- **2023-09** — Raised $35M Series B led by Amplitude Ventures with Gilead, Versant, and Samsara; disclosed Gilead three-program deal with ~$66M upfront and equity.
- **2021-10** — Emerged from stealth with a $50M Series A co-led by Versant Ventures and Samsara BioCapital.

## Links

- Website: https://tentarix.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tentarix-biotherapeutics

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/tentarix-biotherapeutics
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Last updated: 2026-06-11