Enara Bio announces discovery of new cancer specific dark antigen

06 November 2025

Enara Bio has identified a new cancer-specific marker, called DARKFOX, that the company says could broaden the reach of next-generation immunotherapies for solid tumours.

DARKFOX is a protein fragment displayed on the surface of many solid tumour cells - including most lung, head and neck, and oesophageal squamous cell cancers - while appearing at very low levels in healthy tissue. According to Enara, this combination of broad tumour coverage and cancer-specificity makes DARKFOX a strong candidate for therapies that guide the immune system directly to cancer cells.

Kevin Pojasek, Chief Executive Officer of Enara Bio, said: “Our DARKFOX discovery marks a turning point showing that the dark genome harbours a rich source of tumour-specific antigens that can be both prevalent and actionable. With the discovery of DARKFOX, we have achieved a major breakthrough in validating the first in a completely new class of Dark Antigens, cementing our leadership position in this field.”

Building on the finding, Enara has developed ENA101, an experimental bispecific T-cell engager designed to direct immune cells to tumours expressing DARKFOX. ENA101 is currently advancing through preclinical studies as the company prepares for its first FDA Investigational New Drug (IND) submission.

The company says it is also expanding its discovery platform to search for additional “Dark Antigens,” including cell-surface proteins that could support future generations of cancer immunotherapies.

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Enara Bio announces discovery of new cancer specific dark antigen