Cyrusbio

Cyrus Biotechnology (Cyrus Bio) is a Seattle-based, pre-clinical-stage biologics discovery company that re-engineers naturally occurring proteins into therapeutic candidates. Its platform pairs computational protein design — Rosetta-derived methods plus proprietary AI/machine-learning algorithms, bioinformatics and cheminformatics tools and cloud infrastructure — with an in-house biochemistry laboratory that performs large-scale deep mutational scanning (DMS), protein engineering and in vitro/in vivo assays. Stated capability areas include structure prediction, immunogenicity (T- and B-cell epitope) reduction, stability and serum half-life extension, solubility and aggregation control, binding affinity tuning and target specificity.

The company runs both an internal pipeline and partnered programs. Internal programs are CYR212, a next-generation IdeS IgG protease derived from streptococcus aimed at IgG-driven autoimmune diseases such as immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (wAIHA) and myasthenia gravis; a next-generation IL-22 fusion protein engineered to resist IL-22 binding protein and with extended half-life for autoimmune, tissue-protection and metabolic indications; and a next-generation IL-15 with an AI-designed slow-release modification for solid and hematologic tumors. Partnered programs include ACE2.v2, a half-life- and affinity-optimized ACE2-IgG Fc fusion for acute respiratory distress syndrome (in early IND-enabling studies), CYR212 applied to reducing IgG interference with AAV-mediated gene therapy, an engineered human cytomegalovirus receptor decoy in pre-clinical and non-human-primate studies, and an undisclosed milestone- and royalty-based IL-6 pathway agonist collaboration.

Cyrus is built on core software from David Baker's laboratory at the University of Washington; Baker is a scientific co-founder and advisor. In 2021 Cyrus acquired/merged with Orthogonal Biologics, a deep mutational scanning spin-out from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign whose CEO, Erik Procko, joined Cyrus. In December 2024 Cyrus spun out Levitate Bio, a protein AI, bioinformatics and Rosetta services provider.

Founding story

Cyrus was founded as a University of Washington spinout built on core Rosetta software from David Baker's laboratory, where CEO Lucas Nivon had been a translational investigator and senior fellow working on protein design algorithms and Rosetta usability; Baker serves as scientific co-founder and advisor and CTO/CSO Yifan Song, a core Rosetta developer, is a co-founder.

Business model

Cyrus combines internally owned drug programs with partnered discovery work for biotech and pharmaceutical companies and research institutes, in which its computational and laboratory platform is applied to partner molecules; at least one collaboration is structured on milestones and royalties, and the company has historically commercialized software and services access to its Rosetta-based platform.

Revenue is described as arising from partnered discovery collaborations and platform/software and services engagements, including milestone- and royalty-based collaboration terms on partnered programs such as the undisclosed IL-6 pathway agonist.

Traction

Cyrus reports 30+ discovery programs with partners and work with over 90 industry partners across more than 120 biopharma companies contacted or served. Program traction includes ACE2.v2 in early IND-enabling studies, an hCMV receptor decoy in non-human primate studies, and CYR212 selected as a clinical candidate in January 2025 following in vivo data indicating redosability without anti-drug antibodies.

Latest developments

In January 2025 Cyrus announced the selection of CYR212 as its clinical candidate for chronic IgG-driven autoimmune disease including myasthenia gravis and immune thrombocytopenia. In December 2024 it spun out Levitate Bio, a protein AI, bioinformatics and Rosetta service provider, and announced in vivo data showing potent redosability of its engineered IdeS protease with no anti-drug antibodies. In October 2024 the company noted co-founder David Baker's award of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.