Recognition places Indapta among an elite group of life sciences startups honored during the awards’ 20th anniversary year
HOUSTON & SEATTLE — Indapta Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing off-the-shelf natural killer (NK) cell therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases, has been named a nominee for “Best Startup” in the 2026 Prix Galien USA Awards, The Galien Foundation announced this week.
Indapta’s G-NK cell therapy platform is based on technology originally developed at Michigan State University and is now being advanced by the company to address cancer and autoimmune diseases. The platform uses proprietary, allogeneic FcRγ-deficient natural killer cells derived from healthy donors. Unlike conventional NK cells, G-NK cells have demonstrated higher killing capacity, longer persistence in the body, and enhanced ability to work alongside FDA-approved tumor-targeting antibodies, making them a potentially transformative complement to existing cancer treatments. That MSU-originated innovation helped earn Indapta recognition as MSU Startup of the Year in 2023, underscoring the company’s progress in translating university research into potential new therapies.
The nomination places Indapta among roughly 80 companies competing for the Best Startup honor this year, part of a broader slate of nominees spanning Best Digital Health Solution, Best Medical Technology, and Incubators, Accelerators and Equity categories. Winners will be announced at the Prix Galien USA Awards Ceremony on October 29, 2026, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City — marking the 20th anniversary of the U.S. program.
Often referred to as the “Nobel Prize” of the biopharmaceutical industry, the Prix Galien recognizes innovations with the greatest potential to transform human health. Nominees are evaluated solely on scientific merit and health impact.
Click HERE to read the full list of 2026 Prix Galien Foundation nominees.
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About Indapta Therapeutics
Indapta Therapeutics is a biotechnology company harnessing the natural power of the immune system to fight cancer and autoimmune diseases through its universal G-NK cell platform. Based in Houston, TX, and Seattle, WA, Indapta is advancing multiple clinical programs aimed at addressing the limitations of currently available cellular therapies.
For more information, visit indapta.com.
About the Prix Galien USA Awards
Established in Paris in 1970 and now operating in more than 75 countries, The Galien Foundation fosters and rewards excellence in scientific innovation to improve human health. The Prix Galien USA Awards celebrate breakthroughs in medical technology, digital health, and biopharmaceutical entrepreneurship.
About the MSU Innovation Center
The MSU Innovation Center connects Michigan State University’s world-class research and innovation ecosystem with industry and community partners to accelerate discovery, commercialization, and real-world impact. As part of a leading public, land-grant research university, the Innovation Center advances ideas from campus to the marketplace through corporate engagement, technology transfer, startup support, and translational funding initiatives—strengthening Michigan’s economy and delivering solutions that benefit society.
Learn more: MSU Innovation Center