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Compugen
Compugen was founded in 1993 as a computational biology company, aiming to reverse-engineer the human genome for drug target discovery.
Compugen
Compugen was founded in 1993 as a computational biology company, aiming to reverse-engineer the human genome for drug target discovery. Anat Cohen-Dayag became CEO in 2010, shifting the model from a service-focused bioinformatics shop into a proprietary pipeline builder. The firm licenses its predictive discovery platform to identify novel immuno-oncology targets, then either out-licenses the resulting drug candidates or advances them internally. The core strategy revolves around bispecific and multi-specific antibodies targeting the tumor microenvironment, with a focus on hard-to-drug pathways like PVRIG and TIGIT. The firm's lead program, COM701, is a first-in-class anti-PVRIG antibody evaluated in combination with Bristol Myers Squibb's Opdivo in Phase 1/2 trials. In 2024, Gilead Sciences returned the rights to a preclinical IL-18 binding protein program, while AstraZeneca continued a Phase 2/3 trial of rilvegostomig, a PD-1/TIGIT bispecific derived from Compugen's platform, in biliary tract cancer. Compugen maintains a cancer immunotherapy pipeline and a computational engine that also finds applications in inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Headquartered in Holon, Israel, Compugen operates as a lean drug-hunter with a partner-funded model. The firm has key collaborations with AstraZeneca and, previously, Bristol Myers Squibb. In February 2025, Compugen announced a strategic restructuring to focus resources on early-stage pipeline candidates and computational platform enhancements, extending its cash runway into 2028. The firm has generated significant non-dilutive funding through upfront licensing payments — most notably the $200M from AstraZeneca in 2018. Compugen's structural differentiator lies in its purely computational underpinning. Unlike traditional biotechs that begin with wet-lab screens, Compugen's Unigen platform uses algorithmic predictions to identify novel drug targets and antibody combinations, a model that compresses early discovery timelines. This has produced a pipeline of first-in-class biologics built on in-silico predictions validated in clinical trials.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
1993
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Middle East
Country
Israel
City
Holon
Corporate office
Holon, Israel
Principals
Anat Cohen-Dayag
President & CEO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What is Compugen's core drug discovery platform?
Compugen's Unigen platform is a computational engine that predicts novel drug targets and bispecific antibody combinations by modeling biological pathways in silico before they enter the lab. AstraZeneca's PD-1/TIGIT bispecific, rilvegostomig, was derived from a target pair identified by this platform (per Fierce Biotech, 2024). The firm applies it primarily in immuno-oncology but has expanded into inflammation and autoimmune disease.
How does Compugen fund its operations?
Compugen uses a partner-funded model, securing large upfront licensing fees to finance its internal pipeline. AstraZeneca paid $200M upfront in 2018 for the rights to develop rilvegostomig, which remains the firm's largest non-dilutive capital injection. Additional milestone payments and an earlier collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb have supplemented its cash runway.
Who runs investment decisions at Compugen?
Anat Cohen-Dayag, President and CEO since 2010, leads strategic capital allocation, pipeline prioritization, and partnership negotiations (per Reuters, 2025). The board, chaired by Pierre Besuchet, provides governance oversight for major licensing and restructuring decisions.
Does Compugen participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Compugen is a publicly traded biotechnology company on Nasdaq, not an investment fund. It deploys capital directly into its internal drug pipeline and does not make fund commitments. Institutional investors gain exposure by purchasing equity on the public market.
What investment stages does Compugen typically target?
Compugen typically advances programs from computational discovery through Phase 1 or Phase 2 clinical proof-of-concept before seeking partners for late-stage development and commercialization. Its internal pipeline focuses on preclinical through Phase 2 assets, with the restructured 2025 strategy emphasizing earlier-stage candidates.
What is Compugen's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
Compugen does not operate as a co-investment vehicle. It collaborates with pharmaceutical partners like AstraZeneca and Gilead Sciences through licensing agreements where the partner funds clinical development, effectively serving as the financial backer for jointly developed programs.
Is Compugen structured as a family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
Compugen is neither a family office nor a venture firm. It is a publicly traded computational drug discovery company incorporated in Israel and listed on Nasdaq. It generates value by inventing therapeutic antibodies, not by investing in external portfolio companies.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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