Kopra Bio makes cancer cures using viral immunotherapy tech we developed at UCSF. We’re making the next Keytruda (a $25B/yr cancer drug blockbuster) starting with the most aggressive form of brain cancer, glioblastoma. In preclinical models, our treatment improves survival from 0 to 90%.
Viral immunotherapies that turn cancer cells into biofactories
Title: Kopra Bio: Genetically engineerd viruses that teach your immune system to kill… | Y Combinator

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### Genetically engineerd viruses that teach your immune system to kill…

Kopra Bio makes genetically engineerd viruses that teach your immune system to kill cancer using tech we developed at UCSF. We’re making the next Keytruda ($25B/yr cancer drug blockbuster) starting with the most aggressive form of brain cancer, glioblastoma. In the most challenging brain cancer model, we improve survival from 0% with the current FDA approved treamtent to 90% with our treatment.



Kopra Bio

Founded:2024

Team Size:2

Location:San Francisco

### Active Founders

### Andrew Bartynski, Founder

Serial Biotech Entrepreneur and repeat YC founder. Built medical devices as CEO @ AesculaTech (YC W18). Developed the contraceptive pill for men as COO @ YourChoice Therapeutics (YC W19). Founded a COVID antiviral company that went from founding to Phase II/III clinical trial in 6 months and was acquired by a publicly traded biotech in less than a year as COO @ ANA Therapeutics. Made next generation Psychedelics for mental health @ ASRI. Now curing cancer @ Kopra Bio



### Alexander Haddad, Founder

Neurosurgery resident @ UCSF, scientific co-founder @ Kopra Bio. Published over 70 peer-reviewed publications as a neurosurgery resident at UCSF. Alex is particularly interested in the delivery of cell and gene therapies to the central nervous system and neuro-oncology. Kopra Bio is a serial biotech entrepreneur and a UCSF Neurosurgery resident on a mission to revolutionize cancer treatment.



### Company Launches

[### 🔬🧠🧬 Kopra Bio - Making cancer cures using viral immunotherapy](

**Tl;dr**: We are [Kopra Bio]( a serial biotech entrepreneur and a UCSF Neurosurgery resident on a mission to revolutionize cancer treatment. Kopra Bio is curing cancer using viral immunotherapy technology we developed at UCSF. We’re making the next Keytruda, a **$25B/yr cancer drug blockbuster**, starting with the most aggressive form of brain cancer, glioblastoma. In preclinical models, we improve survival rates from 0% with standard-of-care treatment to **greater than 90% survival with our treatment.**

**—**

Hey - we are Andrew and Alex!



**Team:**
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🤵 [**Andrew Bartynski, PhD**]( - Serial Biotech Entrepreneur and **repeat YC founder**. Developed the **contraceptive pill for men** as COO @ YourChoice Therapeutics (YC W19). Founded a **COVID-19 antiviral** company that went from founding to Phase II/III clinical trial in < 6 months and was acquired in < 1 year as COO @ ANA Therapeutics. Made **next-generation psychedelics** for mental health @ Alexander Shulgin Research Institute. Now curing cancer as CEO @ Kopra Bio.

👨‍⚕️[**Alexander Haddad, MD**]( - Scientific Cofounder @ Kopra Bio, Neurosurgery Resident @ UCSF. Alex **published \>** **70 peer-reviewed publications as a neurosurgery resident at UCSF**. He is particularly interested in **neuro-oncology** and the delivery of cell and **gene therapies** to the central nervous system. Alex helped spearhead the development of Kopra Bio’s viral technology in the labs of Dr. Manish Aghi and Dr. Noriyuki Kasahara. His clinical skills have also been recognized with the Krevans Award for clinical excellence at San Francisco General Hospital.

👨‍⚕️ [**Manish Aghi, MD, PhD**]( - Neurosurgeon and Professor @ UCSF. Renowned expert with over **30 years of experience in Neurosurgery and tumor microenvironment** leading the Brain Tumor Research Center at UCSF with a focus on malignant brain tumors like glioblastoma.

👨‍⚕️ [**Noriyuki Kasahara, MD, PhD**]( - CSO @ 4D Molecular Therapeutics, Professor of Neurological Surgery and Radiation Oncology @ UCSF. Dr. Kasahara has been a **world leader** in the field of **cancer research and gene therapy vector** **development** for over 30 years.

**👩‍🔬** **Sara Collins, PhD** - Gene Therapy Specialist @ UCSF, Director @ 4D Molecular Therapeutics. World expert in the development of **vectors for cancer gene therapy**.

How do we get to a world without cancer?
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**❌ Today’s approach** - death by a thousand cuts
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State-of-the-art cancer therapies target tumor mutations one by one. Despite more than 550 cancer drug approvals since the year 2000, there are still 10 million cancer deaths each year. This approach is expensive (**$1B per therapy**), slow (**10 years of development** per drug), and incremental (only **one mutation addressed** per therapy). Even the most successful cancer drugs of all time have **success rates of less than 10% in solid tumors**.

**✅ Kopra Bio’s Solution** - first principles approach that targets phenotypes seen across all cancers
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Using **stealthy viruses🦠**, Kopra Bio infects cancer cells, spreads throughout tumors, and hijacks them to produce immune signals. The immune signals recruit T cells which then kill the cancer. This process teaches the patient’s immune system to kill their tumor - _in vivo_ - **curing the cancer and eliminating metastasis and recurrence.**



**🔬Kopra Bio at a glance**
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*   **Demonstrated efficacy** in the most challenging brain cancer models increasing survival from 0% without treatment to **greater than 90% survival** with our treatment
*   **Cancer selective** by design - reduced toxicity and adverse events
*   **Platform** approach broadly applicable across cancer
*   Strong **safety** profile
*   Highly stable and **scalable** to manufacture

**🙏 Asks**
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*   Share this post on your socials and help spread the word!
*   If you’re as excited as we are about eradicating cancer and would like to learn more about what we’re doing, **email us** at [founders@kopra.bio](mailto:founders@koprabio.com)
