Codiak BioSciences

About

Codiak BioSciences, founded in 2015 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a pioneering biotechnology company at the forefront of exosome-based therapeutics. The company has developed the proprietary engEx platform, which engineers exosomes—naturally occurring nanovesicles (30-150 nanometers) secreted by cells—as sophisticated drug delivery vehicles. Unlike synthetic nanoparticles, exosomes offer inherent biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and natural ability to cross biological barriers, making them ideal carriers for therapeutic payloads. Codiak's engEx technology precisely modifies exosomes to display specific targeting molecules on their surface while loading therapeutic cargo inside, creating programmable nanomedicines with enhanced tissue specificity and therapeutic efficacy. The company's lead programs include exoSTING, an exosome-delivered STING agonist for cancer immunotherapy, and exoIL-12, which delivers interleukin-12 for tumor treatment. These engineered exosomes leverage the body's natural intercellular communication system to deliver potent immunomodulatory agents directly to target cells, potentially revolutionizing cancer treatment with improved safety profiles compared to conventional delivery methods. Codiak has raised over $300 million in funding, reflecting significant investor confidence in exosome therapeutics. The Cambridge location places Codiak at the heart of the biotech innovation ecosystem, with access to world-renowned research institutions and clinical infrastructure. The company employs between 100-200 specialists in molecular biology, nanotechnology, and clinical development. Exosomes represent a convergence of cell biology and nanotechnology, and Codiak's platform addresses critical challenges in drug delivery including tumor penetration, immune evasion, and payload stability. As the field of nanomedicine evolves beyond synthetic nanoparticles, Codiak's focus on biological nanovesicles positions it as a leader in next-generation therapeutic delivery, with potential applications extending beyond oncology to neurodegenerative diseases, rare disorders, and vaccines.