Araris Biotech AG
Araris Biotech AG is a Swiss biotechnology company pioneering proprietary antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) linker technology for targeted cancer therapy.
About
Araris Biotech AG is a leading Swiss biotech company focused on developing and commercializing next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) using its proprietary peptide-based linker technology (AraLinQ™), which enables the efficient and precise production of homogeneous, stable, and highly soluble ADCs by attaching various drug payloads directly to native antibodies in a one-step process, without requiring antibody engineering. The platform addresses key limitations of current ADCs related to stability, solubility, and manufacturing efficiency, aiming to deliver safer and more effective targeted cancer therapies. Araris was founded as a spin-off from the Paul Scherrer Institute and ETH Zurich and, as of 2025, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Taiho Pharmaceutical. Its mission is to pioneer transformative ADC therapies with improved therapeutic indices, providing meaningful benefits for patients with cancer.
Products & Services
- AraLinQ™ ADC linker technology platform
- Development of proprietary ADC candidates targeting hematological and solid tumors
- Custom ADC generation services using proprietary linker technology
- Site-specific conjugation method for ready-to-use antibodies with multiple payload options
- Preclinical and clinical ADC pipeline development
Use Cases & Case Studies
- Development of anti-CD79b ADC for hematologic cancers, demonstrating wider therapeutic window and lower toxicity than FDA-approved polatuzumab vedotin
- Development of anti-Nectin-4 ADC for solid tumors, showing prolonged tumor remission in models with lower drug load and increased stability compared to approved ADCs
- Development of dual payload anti-HER2 ADC showing superior anti-tumor efficacy versus trastuzumab deruxtecan in solid tumor models
- Utilization of AraLinQ™ linker platform for one-step generation of multi-payload ADCs for complex cancer types
Partnerships & Collaborations
- Research agreement with Johnson & Johnson (Janssen Biotech, Inc.) for ADC development (2025)
- Research collaboration and acquisition by Taiho Pharmaceutical (2023–2025)
- Research collaboration and option to license agreement with Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (2025)
- Strategic investment and collaboration with Samsung Ventures
- Acquisition of Innate Pharma’s portfolio of transglutaminase patents (2024)
- Collaboration with ARS Pharmaceuticals for use of Nectin-4 antibody
Awards & Recognition
- Swiss Accelerator Grant from Innosuisse (CHF 2.5M, 2023)
- Top 15 Swiss Startups (2020, 2021)
- Shortlisted for Best ADC Platform Technology at World ADC Awards (2021)
- Listed among Top 15 Swiss Biotech Startups by Labbiotech.eu (2021)
- Venture Leaders Life Sciences 2020 winner
Contact Information
Certifications & Compliance
- ISO9001:2015 certification for partner (Zedira) used in enzymatic conjugation components