Sana Biotechnology

Sana Biotechnology engineers cells to evade immune rejection, stripping the surface markers that would otherwise mark a transplant as foreign. In type 1 diabetes it first tested that hypoimmune platform as UP421, allogeneic primary islets transplanted with no immunosuppression at all. The investigator-sponsored study ran at Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden under Dr. Per-Ola Carlsson. Sana reported follow-up in 2026 showing the modified islets stayed undetected by the immune system, were safe, and were still producing insulin. Its follow-on product SC451 applies the same edits to stem-cell-derived islets, so that supply does not depend on deceased donors. The company has said it expects to file an investigational new drug application and start a Phase 1 trial. Sana positions itself around engineered cells generally rather than diabetes alone, and SC451 has not yet reached the clinic.

Location

Seattle, Washington, U.S.

Founded

2018