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Lisata Therapeutics
Lisata Therapeutics, led by David Mazzo, develops LSTA1 to improve chemotherapy delivery in pancreatic cancer — a single-asset public biotech.
Lisata Therapeutics
Lisata Therapeutics incorporated in 2011 as Caladrius Biosciences, evolving from a stem-cell therapy platform into a targeted oncology company. David Mazzo, who previously ran Caladrius and Escalon Medical, led the 2022 rebranding and strategic refocus following the acquisition of CendR Therapeutics. The deal brought LSTA1, the company's lead candidate, into the portfolio — shifting the firm's identity entirely toward transforming the tumor microenvironment to make existing cancer drugs more effective. The company's strategy centers on LSTA1's mechanism, which activates a tumor-specific transport pathway to boost penetration of co-administered anti-cancer agents. Clinical work spans multiple solid tumor types, with the most advanced program in metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Lisata runs a global Phase 2b trial combining LSTA1 with standard-of-care gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. Collaborations with AstraZeneca and Merck KGaA test LSTA1 alongside durvalumab and an experimental KRAS inhibitor, operating across sites in the United States, Europe, and Australia. Lisata operates from Basking Ridge, New Jersey, with a lean team led by Mazzo. In September 2023, the company reported interim Phase 2b data showing improved survival outcomes in pancreatic cancer patients — the event that confirmed its capital allocation around LSTA1. No adjacent vehicles or philanthropic foundations are disclosed. The firm's structure remains a single-entity public biotechnology company, trading on Nasdaq under the symbol LSTA, with no separate family-office or asset-management arm. Lisata's structural differentiator is its singular bet on a drug-delivery enhancer rather than a direct tumor-killing molecule. The company does not develop its own chemotherapy agents; instead it licenses a peptide designed to upgrade the performance of partners' oncology drugs — placing Lisata in a small subset of biotechs positioned as combination-therapy enablers.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2011
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Basking Ridge
Corporate office
Basking Ridge, NJ, United States
Principals
David Mazzo
Chief Executive Officer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment and strategic decisions at Lisata Therapeutics?
David Mazzo serves as CEO and directs Lisata's strategy. He previously led Caladrius Biosciences, the predecessor company, and engineered the 2022 acquisition of CendR Therapeutics that brought LSTA1 into the pipeline. The board oversees major capital allocation decisions as a public company.
What is Lisata's lead asset and how does it work?
LSTA1 is a cyclic peptide that targets the C-end rule neuropilin-1 transport pathway, which is selectively active in tumors. By activating this pathway, LSTA1 transiently increases the permeability of the tumor microenvironment, allowing co-administered chemotherapy or immunotherapy drugs to penetrate more effectively. It is not a standalone cancer treatment but a combination enabler.
Which cancer types does Lisata target?
The most advanced program targets metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in a global Phase 2b trial. Lisata also tests LSTA1 in other solid tumors, including glioblastoma and cancers of the colon, esophagus, and bile ducts, through collaborations with academic centers and pharmaceutical partners.
Does Lisata have pharmaceutical partnerships?
Yes. Lisata collaborates with AstraZeneca to test LSTA1 combined with durvalumab (an anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy) and with Merck KGaA to pair it with an experimental KRAS inhibitor. These partnerships validate the company's thesis that LSTA1 can broadly improve the efficacy of other cancer drugs.
Is Lisata a family office or a biotech company?
Lisata is a clinical-stage biotechnology company, not a family office. It is publicly traded on Nasdaq under the ticker LSTA and operates as a single corporate entity. The firm profile appears in this database due to a legacy classification; no private family wealth underlies the operation.
What was Lisata before the 2022 rebranding?
Lisata was previously Caladrius Biosciences, a company focused on stem-cell therapies for autoimmune and cardiovascular conditions. The April 2022 acquisition of CendR Therapeutics triggered the strategic pivot to oncology and the name change to Lisata Therapeutics.
What stage is the LSTA1 clinical program at?
LSTA1 is in mid-stage clinical development. A Phase 2b trial in first-line metastatic pancreatic cancer completed enrollment, and interim data reported in 2023 showed improved survival. Phase 2 studies in other solid tumors are ongoing through investigator-initiated trials.
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