Aura Biosciences is a clinical‐stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of targeted therapies for oncology. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in San Diego, California, the company has pioneered a proprietary platform of virus‐like particles that are conjugated with a near‐infrared photoactivatable dye. This approach is designed to selectively bind to cancer cells and, upon activation with light, induce localized cytotoxic effects while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
The company’s lead product candidate, AU-011, is being evaluated for the treatment of primary ocular melanoma and head and neck cancers. AU-011 utilizes Aura’s proprietary virus‐like particles to deliver its photoactivatable payload directly to tumor cells. Once bound, the agent is activated by near‐infrared laser light, generating reactive oxygen species that destroy cancer cells and stimulate an anti‐tumor immune response. Preclinical and early clinical studies have demonstrated proof of concept for targeted cell killing and immunogenic cell death with a favorable safety profile.
Aura Biosciences also maintains a growing pipeline of follow‐on candidates, including AU-012 and other next‐generation constructs engineered for specific tumor antigens. The company’s research and development operations span its San Diego headquarters as well as strategic collaborations in the United States and Europe. In addition to its clinical programs, Aura invests in translational research aimed at expanding its platform to new indications and enhancing the technology’s tissue penetration and immune potentiation capabilities.
Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Chang‐gon Kim, Ph.D., Aura Biosciences has advanced from a venture‐backed startup through a successful initial public offering on NASDAQ in 2020. The company continues to engage with regulatory authorities, academic institutions and industry partners to accelerate clinical development and broaden patient access to its novel light‐activated oncology therapeutics.
AI Generated. May Contain Errors.
