Roberto Chiarle

ALKemist Bio is an Italian biotechnology company founded in 2023 by Professor Roberto Chiarle to develop transformative cellular immunotherapies for ALK-positive cancers. Based in Turin, Italy, the company translates decades of pioneering research on the ALK oncogene into clinical-stage therapies, specifically engineering T-cell receptors (TCR) and chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) to target tumor cells. The company's pipeline is designed to address aggressive malignancies such as non-small cell lung cancer, neuroblastoma, and lymphomas, with a focus on overcoming resistance encountered with conventional ALK inhibitors. ALKemist Bio aims to provide durable, curative responses through sustained immune surveillance. In December 2023, the startup secured a €6.9 million seed investment round led by Claris Ventures to advance its preclinical programs. The venture represents a transatlantic collaboration between scientific expertise from the University of Torino and Harvard Medical School.