Akimbo Bio has joined the BioEscalator as it moves from academic research into the early stages of commercial development. Founded by Oxford students from Balliol College, the company is pioneering an all-in-one lentiviral therapy for in vivo delivery, carrying a dual CAR/TCR payload designed to treat ovarian cancer.
At the heart of Akimbo Bio’s technology is intelligent receptor crosstalk. Their therapeutic design enables the TCR to modulate CAR behaviour, thereby simultaneously improving patient safety and therapeutic performance. Weak self-antigen stimulation of the TCR dampens CAR activation to prevent off-target effects, while strong neoantigen stimulation boosts CAR activity against cells carrying a specific hotspot mutation. This fine-tuned approach can be readily validated in high-translation organoid models, and offers new promise for safer and more effective cancer immunotherapies.
“As we bridge from familiarity with the Oxford academic ecosystem to industry, the BioEscalator is an ideal space for us to utilise resources that we understand, whilst taking the first steps to bring the therapy towards market,” the founders shared. “The advice and insights of experienced peers and the knowledge and network built at scheduled events will be hugely beneficial.”
The Team Behind the Science
Aneesh Aggarwal, Akimbo Bio’s co-founder, CEO, and Genomics Lead, is a DPhil student researching organoids in tumour initiation (NDWRH). He is entering his third year in the Ovarian Cancer Cell Laboratory and holds an MA and MB/BChir in Medicine from the University of Cambridge.
Sooraj Achar, co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer, recently completed his DPhil in cross-receptor antagonism at the University of Oxford (NDORMS) under the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program. Supervised by Dr. Gregoire Altan-Bonnet at the National Cancer Institute and Professor Mike Dustin at Oxford, who now serves as a non-co-founding scientific advisor. Sooraj also holds a BS in Biochemistry & Math from the University of Virginia.
Recognised for Excellence
Despite being at the start of their commercial journey, the founders bring an impressive track record of academic achievement and scientific recognition. Their accolades include:
- BioHealth Innovation Award (2022) – for novel and impactful developments in biology or medicine
- William E Paul Award (2023) – recognising the best paper in cytokine research
- Richard & Vera Siegel Translation Award (2024) – for outstanding contributions to translating fundamental discoveries into medical applications
- Peter Medawar Immunology Prize (2025) – awarded to an Oxford researcher for exceptional contributions to immunology and the academic community
The BioEscalator is delighted to support Akimbo Bio and looks forward to seeing their progress as they establish their first laboratory home and advance their platform towards clinical impact.