Biotech Startups in California

A clinical-stage biotechnology startup founded in January 2026, focused on developing and commercializing novel therapeutics for respiratory diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The company's business model involves in-licensing late-stage clinical assets and advancing them through global development outside of Greater China. Its lead program is a dual PDE3/4 inhibitor for COPD maintenance treatment.

Founded 2024

Allay Therapeutics is a pioneering company dedicated to transforming post-surgical pain management. By developing innovative solutions that extend localized pain relief for weeks, they aim to reduce opioid use, minimize addiction risks, and lower healthcare costs associated with traditional pain management.

Atomwise Inc. is a pioneering technology-enabled pharmaceutical company that employs artificial intelligence to transform the landscape of small molecule drug discovery. By leveraging advanced machine learning techniques, Atomwise aims to streamline the drug development process, making it not only more efficient but also more effective in identifying viable therapeutic candidates.

Autonomy Bio Inc. is an innovative biotechnology firm focused on advancing RNA-based therapeutics specifically designed to address challenging diseases, with a strong emphasis on oncology and infectious diseases. Leveraging proprietary technology, the company is committed to enhancing the precision and effectiveness of treatments to improve patient outcomes for complex conditions.

Founded 2024

Celestial Therapeutics Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative therapies aimed at treating, preventing, and curing infectious diseases, inflammatory conditions, and various forms of cancer. With a strong focus on addressing key unmet medical needs, the company integrates cutting-edge technology into its therapeutic solutions.

ChromaCode, Inc. is a biotechnology firm focused on revolutionizing diagnostic testing through its advanced PCR multiplexing technology solutions, enhancing efficiency and scalability in biomarker detection. By integrating cloud computing with traditional PCR methods, ChromaCode provides healthcare and research institutions with innovative approaches to diagnostic problem-solving.

Dermata Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in the development of innovative treatments for a range of skin diseases and aesthetic conditions. By leveraging both mechanical and chemical mechanisms, Dermata aims to deliver more effective solutions for dermatologic issues, including acne, psoriasis, and rosacea.

Founded 2021

Evofem Biosciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on women's sexual and reproductive health. They develop and commercialize hormone-free, patient-controlled solutions, providing women with greater control over their health choices. The company addresses unmet needs in contraception, vaginal infections, and sexually transmitted infections.

GT Biopharma, Inc. is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the advancement of immunotherapy treatments for cancer and other serious diseases. By focusing on the limitations of existing treatments, GT Biopharma aims to provide innovative solutions that are both targeted and effective.

Latigo Biotherapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in the development of non-opioid pain medicines. Based in Thousand Oaks, CA, the company leverages advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, to create innovative treatments that address the unmet needs in pain management.

Maxymune Therapeutics, Inc. is a pioneering biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative immunotherapies aimed at treating various immune-related diseases. With a commitment to advancing patient care through scientific research and development, Maxymune strives to harness the power of the immune system to improve health outcomes.

Founded 2023

Montara Therapeutics, Inc. is a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of innovative therapies for neurological diseases and brain cancers. With a strong emphasis on minimizing peripheral side effects and enhancing the efficacy of treatments, Montara is at the forefront of addressing critical challenges in the neurological therapeutics space.

Founded 2022

NeOnc Technologies Holdings, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing pioneering treatments for central nervous system diseases, focusing primarily on brain cancers such as glioblastoma. The company's innovative approaches seek to overcome the formidable challenge of delivering therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier, which has historically hindered effective treatment options.

Founded 2023

Oncocyte Corporation is a leading molecular diagnostics company committed to enhancing patient outcomes through advanced diagnostic testing solutions tailored for oncology and transplant care. By focusing on delivering actionable insights, Oncocyte empowers healthcare professionals to make informed medical decisions critical to patient treatment pathways.

Oncotelic Therapeutics, Inc. is a publicly traded, clinical-stage biotechnology company developing RNA therapeutics and small-molecule drugs for immuno-oncology and virology. The company's primary focus is on advancing its lead candidate, OT-101, which targets the TGF-β pathway to treat solid tumors and severe viral diseases. Oncotelic also leverages a proprietary AI platform to support its research and development efforts.

Parcel Biosciences is a seed-stage biotechnology startup founded in 2023, focused on developing next-generation RNA therapeutics. The company is creating a nanoparticle-free delivery system for mRNA medicines, aiming to overcome the technical limitations of current lipid nanoparticle technologies. This innovative approach is designed to enable targeted delivery of therapeutics to specific cell types, expanding the potential applications of mRNA beyond vaccines.

Founded 2024

Pheast Therapeutics, Inc. is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel immuno-oncology therapies. The company is pioneering a new approach to cancer treatment by targeting innate immune evasion pathways, specifically harnessing the power of macrophages to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. Pheast's innovative approach aims to address the limitations of current immunotherapies and offer solutions for aggressive cancers.

Founded 2020

Rakuten Medical, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing advanced cancer treatments through their innovative photoimmunotherapy technology. Their mission is to provide more precise and effective therapeutic options, specifically targeting cancer cells to minimize collateral damage to healthy tissues.

Resolute Science, Inc. is a biotechnology company dedicated to advancing cancer treatment through innovative therapeutic strategies. The company specializes in addressing the challenges of solid tumor cancers, with a focus on overcoming recurrence and drug resistance.

Founded 2020

Restora Medical, Inc. is an innovative biotechnology company founded in 2023 and based in Irvine, California. The company is dedicated to developing cutting-edge medical technologies and solutions within the healthcare industry, aiming to address significant health-related challenges through novel biological and technological advancements.

Founded 2023

RNAV8 Bio, Inc. is an innovative biotechnology company dedicated to enhancing the efficacy of mRNA therapeutics. By harnessing advanced technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence, RNAV8 aims to revolutionize the field of mRNA-based drug development for a wide array of diseases.

Founded 2022

Surrozen, Inc. is a biotechnology firm headquartered in South San Francisco, California, dedicated to pioneering innovative regenerative medicines through the activation of the Wnt signaling pathway. This critical mechanism serves as a foundation for tissue repair and regeneration, positioning Surrozen at the forefront of advanced therapeutic solutions for diverse medical conditions.

Founded 2021

Syndex Bio is a pioneering biotechnology company dedicated to revolutionizing the pace and depth of biological discovery through the application of advanced technologies. Established in 2022 and located in Cambridge, UK, the company focuses on creating innovative tools designed to enhance research capabilities across various fields in biology and medicine.

Founded 2022

Synlico Inc. is an AI-powered drug discovery company dedicated to transforming traditional approaches in oncology through the development of engineered T cell therapies tailored to combat solid tumors. By harnessing advanced computational techniques, Synlico leads a paradigm shift in understanding and addressing the complexities of cellular behavior in the tumor microenvironment.

Founded 2021

Topaz Biosciences, Inc. is a biotechnology company that specializes in developing innovative solutions for skin health, with a strong emphasis on harnessing the potential of the skin microbiome. Established in 2022 and based in Emeryville, California, the company is committed to addressing common skin issues such as eczema and acne through scientifically-backed enzyme technology.

Founded 2022

Vivace Therapeutics, Inc. is a pioneering biotechnology firm focused on creating innovative cancer treatments that specifically target the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway. The company aims to deliver solutions for cancer patients with limited options, particularly those suffering from challenging malignancies driven by pathway dysregulation.