Former Genentech Leader Unveils 'Smart' Cancer Drug Startup

Synthetic Design Lab aims to engineer adaptable antibody-drug conjugates that can evolve with cancer.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 10:05pm

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A bold, abstract painting in soft blues, greens, and grays depicting a complex, geometric molecular structure with sweeping arcs and concentric circles, representing the adaptable architecture of Synthetic Design Lab's next-generation cancer therapies.Synthetic Design Lab's 'smart' antibody-drug conjugates are engineered to dynamically adapt to changes in cancer cells, representing a new frontier in the fight against the disease.San Diego Today

Daniel Chen, M.D., Ph.D., a former Genentech executive, has launched a new biotech startup called Synthetic Design Lab (SDL) that is focused on engineering 'smart' antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) capable of adapting to changes in cancer cells. SDL's platform, called Synthbody, can create ADCs with multiple binding sites to target rare cancer cell surface markers, allowing a single drug to pursue different targets as the disease evolves to avoid treatment.

Why it matters

Chen's vision for SDL represents a shift away from the traditional 'one drug, one target' approach to cancer therapy. By designing ADCs that can dynamically bind to multiple targets, the startup aims to create more durable and effective treatments that can keep pace with the rapid mutation and adaptation of cancer cells.

The details

SDL's Synthbody platform can engineer ADCs with up to four arms and six to 12 binding sites, allowing a single drug candidate to target a variety of rare cancer cell surface markers. In preclinical studies, the company's ADCs showed over 80 times greater potency in mouse models and human cells compared to GSK's approved ADC Blenrep. The flexibility of the Synthbody design means the ADCs can adapt as cancer cells evolve to avoid treatment.

  • Chen spent 12.5 years at Genentech, rising to become global head of cancer immunotherapy development.
  • Chen left Genentech in 2018 to serve as chief medical officer at IGM Biosciences for three years.
  • SDL was officially unveiled at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting in San Diego.

The players

Daniel Chen, M.D., Ph.D.

The founder and CEO of Synthetic Design Lab, a former Genentech executive who spent over a decade at the company, rising to become global head of cancer immunotherapy development.

Ramesh Baliga, Ph.D.

The co-founder and chief scientific officer of Synthetic Design Lab, who collaborated with Chen in the early days of the company.

Synthetic Design Lab

A Bay Area biotech startup founded by Chen and Baliga, focused on engineering 'smart' antibody-drug conjugates that can adapt to changes in cancer cells.

Genentech

The pharmaceutical company where Chen spent over 12 years, gaining experience that led him to found Synthetic Design Lab.

IGM Biosciences

The biotech startup where Chen served as chief medical officer for three years before launching Synthetic Design Lab.

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What they’re saying

“It really is a smart drug in the sense that I originally thought of it as a nanobot.”

— Daniel Chen, Founder and CEO, Synthetic Design Lab

“Our platform is a fundamentally different way of thinking about how to target a cancer cell. By controlling the geometry and biophysics of the targeting architecture itself, we can generate capabilities and emergent properties that simply aren't possible with conventional IgG-based formats.”

— Ramesh Baliga, Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Synthetic Design Lab

What’s next

SDL is 'running as fast as we can to take drugs into the clinic,' according to Chen, though the company has not yet determined which of its ADC candidates it will advance first.

The takeaway

Synthetic Design Lab's innovative approach to engineering 'smart' antibody-drug conjugates that can adapt to changes in cancer cells represents a significant shift away from the traditional 'one drug, one target' model of cancer therapy. If successful, this platform could lead to more durable and effective treatments that can keep pace with the rapid evolution of cancer.