About the author

Nataša Obermajer, MPharm, PhD

Nataša Obermajer smiling in a full-length jumping portrait with hands on hips

I am a biopharma R&D executive, immunologist and company co-founder with over 20 years in human immunology, oncology and immune regulation, including more than a decade advancing differentiated therapeutics in global pharmaceutical R&D and venture-backed biotechnology.

I translate complex immune biology into product strategy, decision-ready evidence and development programs spanning target validation through IND-enabling development and first-in-human transition.

This site brings together my perspectives on cancer immunology and emerging therapeutic approaches.

Read my articles · Selected work · Selected publications · Conference presentations

My mission

My mission is to translate scientific insight into differentiated medicines by identifying the right biology, building rigorous evidence, and aligning people, strategy and capital around the programs most likely to create meaningful value for patients.

How I work

I work beyond program execution to shape platform and portfolio strategy, evaluate external technologies and partnering opportunities, and engage VC investors, Boards and Scientific Advisory Boards.

I articulate why the science matters, what evidence is needed next, and how value-creating milestones can be achieved with capital discipline.

Selected therapeutic programs

AGB101 Vβ17 × DLL3

As a co-founder and R&D leader at Agni Bio, I helped advance a subset-selective T-cell engager from concept into IND-enabling development. The work investigates whether recruitment of a defined T-cell subset can maintain antitumor activity with limited inflammatory output.

See the AACR abstract

Obertamig HLA-G × CD3

I was discovery lead for JNJ-78306358, guiding the program from target validation through work supporting first-in-human evaluation. Its story illustrates how target biology, antibody design and translational evidence come together.

Read the publication

Selected publications

Selected publications spanning therapeutic development, tumor immunity, immune regulation, transplantation and cell therapy.

  1. JNJ-78306358, a first-in-class bispecific T cell engaging antibody targeting CD3 and HLA-G

    iScience · PMID 40060890 · 2025

  2. NK Receptor Signaling Lowers TCR Activation Threshold, Enhancing Selective Recognition of Cancer Cells by TAA-Specific CTLs

    Cancer Immunology Research · PMID 38949179 · 2024

  3. Editorial: TNFRSF agonists: mode of action and therapeutic opportunities

    Frontiers in Immunology · PMID 38022660 · 2023

  4. Oncolytic virus promotes tumor-reactive infiltrating lymphocytes for adoptive cell therapy

    Cancer Gene Therapy · PMID 32632271 · 2021

  5. Promoting the accumulation of tumor-specific T cells in tumor tissues by dendritic cell vaccines and chemokine-modulating agents

    Nature Protocols · PMID 29345636 · 2018

  6. Suppressive IL-17A+Foxp3+ and ex-Th17 IL-17AnegFoxp3+ Treg cells are a source of tumour-associated Treg cells

    Nature Communications · PMID 28290453 · 2017

  7. Rationale and prospects of mesenchymal stem cell therapy for liver transplantation

    Current Opinion in Organ Transplantation · PMID 24231429 · 2014

  8. Induction and stability of human Th17 cells require endogenous NOS2 and cGMP-dependent NO signaling

    Journal of Experimental Medicine · PMID 23797095 · 2013

  9. DC-SIGN antagonists, a potential new class of anti-infectives

    Current Medicinal Chemistry · PMID 22257062 · 2012

  10. PGE(2)-induced CXCL12 production and CXCR4 expression controls the accumulation of human MDSCs in ovarian cancer environment

    Cancer Research · PMID 22025564 · 2011

Explore publications on PubMed

Conference abstracts and presentations

  • AGB101: Vβ17 × DLL3

    AACR Annual Meeting · 2026

    Subset-selective T-cell redirection and DLL3-dependent antitumor activity.

    Abstract LB265

  • AGB201: LTβR × EDB

    AACR Immuno-Oncology · 2026

    Tertiary lymphoid structure formation and antitumor activity.

    Abstract B063

  • JNJ-78306358: HLA-G × CD3

    AACR Annual Meeting · 2022

    My New Drugs on the Horizon presentation on the discovery and development of this bispecific antibody.

    AACR presentation recap

The 2026 links lead to conference abstracts; the 2022 link is an AACR recap of the presentation.

Contact

I lead and advise on therapeutic R&D, connecting immune biology with product strategy, translational evidence and portfolio decisions. I welcome conversations about selective scientific advisory engagements and strategic collaborations across immunology, oncology and biologics. Based in San Diego.

Connect on LinkedIn

CV available on request.