KSQ Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company headquartered in the Greater Boston area (Lexington/Cambridge, Massachusetts) that uses its proprietary CRISPRomics platform — a high-throughput, genome-scale CRISPR screening engine — to systematically identify drug targets and develop therapeutics for oncology and immune diseases. The company's pipeline spans three modalities: small-molecule targeted therapies (e.g., the USP1 inhibitor KSQ-4279, licensed worldwide to Roche in 2023), immuno-oncology programs, and CRISPR/Cas9-engineered tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (eTIL) cell therapies such as KSQ-004EX, which dosed its first patient in a Phase 1/2 solid-tumor trial in April 2025. KSQ was founded in 2015 by Flagship Pioneering with co-founding scientific input from researchers at the Broad Institute and MIT, and is backed by investors including Flagship Pioneering, Polaris Partners, ARCH Venture Partners, Alexandria Equities, Baillie Gifford, Cowen Healthcare Investments, Invus, and Lilly Asia Ventures. The slug 'ksq-drug-discovery-jiangji-distillery' appears to reflect an upstream data-source naming collision with the unrelated Chinese distillery Jiangji; this profile concerns KSQ Therapeutics only.
Company data and valuation marks are estimates and may be incomplete, stale, erroneous, or revised.
Founded
2015
Employees
51–200
Total Funding
$156M
2 rounds
Total raised $156M across 2 rounds
Funding data and valuation marks are estimates and may be incomplete, stale, erroneous, or revised.
Last updated 06-25-2026
Latest Round
Type
Series C
Date
September 28, 2018
Amount
$80M
Valuation
—
Lead Investors
| Date | Round | Amount Raised | Valuation | Lead Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 28, 2018 | Series C | $80M | — | Not disclosed |
| October 2, 2017 | Series A/B (emergence) | $76M | — | Flagship Pioneering, Polaris Partners |
Qasim Rizvi
Chief Executive Officer
Micah Benson
Chief Scientific Officer
Chris Heberlig
Chief Financial Officer
Tom Leitch
Chief Technology Officer
Andrew Wylie
Senior Vice President, Head of Oncology
Competitor list is illustrative and may be incomplete, stale, or erroneous.
Iovance Biotherapeutics
Public (NASDAQ: IOVA) developer of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cell therapies; direct comparator to KSQ's engineered-TIL KSQ-004EX program, with FDA-approved Amtagvi for melanoma.
Repare Therapeutics
Public (NASDAQ: RPTX) precision-oncology company using CRISPR-based synthetic-lethal target discovery (SNIPRx) to develop DDR-pathway small molecules, overlapping with KSQ's USP1/DDR approach.
Tango Therapeutics
Public (NASDAQ: TNGX) cancer-drug-discovery company applying functional genomics / CRISPR screens to identify synthetic-lethal targets; close platform peer to KSQ's CRISPRomics.
Instil Bio
Public (NASDAQ: TIL) developer of autologous and engineered TIL therapies for solid tumors; cell-therapy competitor to KSQ-004EX.
KSQ Therapeutics scientific peers: Obsidian Therapeutics
Private Cambridge, MA biotech developing engineered TIL and other cell therapies using its cytoDRiVE platform; direct private peer in engineered-TIL space.
Impetis Biosciences / IDEAYA Biosciences
IDEAYA Biosciences (NASDAQ: IDYA) is a public synthetic-lethality precision-oncology company with a USP1 inhibitor program (IDE161-class DDR portfolio), making it a direct mechanism competitor to KSQ-4279.
No. KSQ (Drug Discovery) is a private company and does not have a public stock ticker or trade on a public stock exchange. Its shares are generally held by founders, employees, investors, and other private shareholders. Buyers and sellers may be able to transact in KSQ (Drug Discovery) shares through private secondary transactions, but any transaction depends on share availability, buyer and seller agreement, transfer restrictions, company approval rights, and any applicable right of first refusal. There is no guarantee that KSQ (Drug Discovery) will complete an IPO or other liquidity event.
Yes, it is sometimes possible to buy KSQ (Drug Discovery) shares pre-IPO through private secondary transactions. This depends on finding a willing seller, company approval, and satisfying any transfer restrictions or rights of first refusal.
Buyers interested in buying KSQ (Drug Discovery) shares on the secondary market typically do so through SetterVC and other secondary-market platforms, subject to eligibility requirements, share availability, transfer restrictions, and issuer approval. Buyers may need to satisfy sophistication, accreditation, institutional, platform, regulatory, or other eligibility requirements before participating. Once eligible, buyers may be able to view listings, make bids, and work with a licensed broker through the transaction process. Buyers should ensure they have appropriate legal and financial advisors guiding them before completing any transaction.
KSQ (Drug Discovery)'s latest disclosed funding round was a Series C round in September 28, 2018. The round raised approximately $80M. Primary funding rounds are different from secondary transactions: in a primary round, capital goes to the company, while in a secondary transaction, investors buy existing shares from current shareholders. Funding-round data reflects publicly reported or collected information and may be incomplete.
KSQ (Drug Discovery) has raised approximately $156M in disclosed funding across 2 rounds. These figures reflect primary capital raised by the company and do not include every possible secondary transaction, undisclosed round, debt facility, or private transfer. Reported funding totals can change as new rounds are announced or older round details are corrected. Eligible users can use SetterVC to track KSQ (Drug Discovery)'s funding history alongside private-market activity where available.
KSQ (Drug Discovery)'s disclosed investors include Flagship Pioneering, Polaris Partners. Investor lists are based on public reporting, company announcements, and collected funding-round data, and may be incomplete. Participation in a prior funding round does not mean those investors are currently buying or selling shares. On SetterVC, eligible users can review KSQ (Drug Discovery)'s funding history, valuation history, and private-market activity alongside other venture-backed companies.
KSQ (Drug Discovery)'s most-cited competitors include Iovance Biotherapeutics, Repare Therapeutics, Tango Therapeutics, Instil Bio, KSQ Therapeutics scientific peers: Obsidian Therapeutics and Impetis Biosciences / IDEAYA Biosciences. Investors often compare these companies by sector, product focus, valuation, funding raised, growth signals, investor base, and private-market activity.
Secondary-market demand for KSQ (Drug Discovery) shares can be affected by company performance, revenue growth, profitability, funding history, valuation, investor interest, sector momentum, public-market conditions, expected timing of a liquidity event, and the availability of shares for sale. Demand can also be affected by transfer restrictions, company approval rights, right of first refusal processes, limited information, and the price expectations of buyers and sellers. Strong demand does not guarantee strong pricing, liquidity, or investment returns. Weak demand does not necessarily reflect the company's long-term prospects. Demand signals should not be treated as a recommendation or prediction of investment performance. Buyers and sellers should treat demand signals as informational and conduct their own diligence before transacting.
Sellers often rely on intermediaries and platforms, such as SetterVC and other secondary-market platforms, to identify potential buyers. The exact process varies by company and transaction, but sellers often begin by confirming their ownership, desired price, transferability, and any company approval or notice requirements. If the seller agrees with a buyer on acceptable price and terms, the company may need to be notified through a share transfer notice or similar process. If a right of first refusal, company approval right, or other transfer restriction applies, the seller may need to wait until that process is completed. The parties may then execute a purchase and sale agreement, complete required transfer documentation, and close if all required conditions are satisfied. Sellers should always seek proper legal and financial advice before completing the transaction.
Yes, current and former KSQ (Drug Discovery) employees, early investors, and other existing shareholders may be able to sell vested shares before an IPO through a private secondary sale. This is not automatic; it depends on whether the shareholder has transferable shares, whether there is buyer demand, and whether the company's governing documents permit the transfer. Many companies require prior notice, company approval, or a right of first refusal before shares can be sold. Sellers should also seek proper legal and financial advice before proceeding.
A KSQ (Drug Discovery) secondary transaction usually involves an existing shareholder selling shares to a buyer before a public listing. The buyer and seller typically agree on price, number of shares, share class, and closing conditions. The seller may then need to notify KSQ (Drug Discovery) through a share transfer notice or similar process. If KSQ (Drug Discovery) or existing investors have approval rights, transfer restrictions, or a right of first refusal, those steps may need to be completed before the transfer can close. The parties typically enter into a purchase and sale agreement, complete any required transfer documentation, and close only if the necessary conditions are satisfied. Timing and certainty can vary by company and transaction.
In most private secondary transactions, parties commonly use a purchase and sale agreement that outlines price, terms, and conditions. They may also use share transfer documentation, often a stock transfer notice, share transfer notice, transfer instruction, or similar document, along with any required company approval or right of first refusal materials. Proof of ownership, such as a cap table entry, share certificate, brokerage statement, issuer confirmation, or administrator confirmation, may also be important. Buyers often request recent company financials, but private companies may limit disclosure. Since every deal varies, buyers and sellers should consult legal and financial advisors to understand which documents are needed.
Buying KSQ (Drug Discovery) shares pre-IPO is risky. Shares are illiquid, no IPO or liquidity event is guaranteed, valuations can change, transfers may require company approval, and private companies may provide limited financial disclosure. Be prepared for total loss. SetterVC and Setter Capital do not provide due diligence, legal, tax, accounting, valuation, or investment advice. Buyers must conduct their own due diligence, verify information, and seek independent legal and investment advice before proceeding.
Private secondary shares are typically illiquid. Unlike public stocks, there is no active public market, so selling them can be difficult and time-consuming. Sales depend on finding a willing buyer and often require company approval. Investors should be prepared to hold the shares for an extended period, with no guarantee of a future sale. Always assess your need for liquidity before investing.
SetterVC and Setter Capital do not provide due diligence, legal, tax, accounting, valuation, or investment advice. Buyers must conduct their own due diligence, including verifying ownership, transferability, legal structure, company approval, and assessing the company's prospects. SetterVC and Setter Capital do not provide advice on whether an investment is good, what price to pay, or what the best bid or ask is. SetterVC and Setter Capital may share documents in some circumstances, but it does not guarantee their accuracy or completeness. Due diligence is essential. Seek legal and investment advice as needed.
Before buying KSQ (Drug Discovery) shares, a buyer should try to review the share class, price per share, implied valuation, transfer restrictions, ROFR process, company approval rights, seller ownership evidence, recent financing or tender-offer information, available financial information, information rights, resale restrictions, tax considerations, and expected liquidity paths. Not all information may be available for a private company. Buyers should confirm available diligence, process details, and information needs with their own legal, tax, and investment advisers.
SPVs carry risks. Examples include the need to confirm the company allows SPV-based transfers, verify that the SPV truly owns the shares or interests it claims to own, and ensure it has not sold more interests than it holds. Due diligence is essential. Seek legal and investment advice as needed.
Forward contracts carry risks. Examples include the seller refusing to transfer the shares at the future date, even if the seller owns them, the seller going bankrupt with creditors claiming the shares, or the seller committing the same shares to multiple parties. Due diligence is essential. Seek legal and investment advice as needed.
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