Funding also supports the start of phase I/IIa study for
lead vaccine, ITOP1
OXFORD, England, May 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Infinitopes
Precision Immunomics, an integrated cancer biotech combining world
leading platforms in precision antigen discovery with vaccine
vectors capable of durably stimulating protective immune responses,
today announced the completion of a £12.8m seed funding round led
by Octopus Ventures. The round was heavily oversubscribed,
also drawing in funds from Cancer Research Horizons, Cancer
Research Institute, CRIS Cancer Foundation, Kindred Capital, Manta
Ray, Martlet Capital, Meltwind Advisory, Saras Capital, Wilbe
Capital, and expert angel investors. The total funds raised combine
new equity investment and a prestigious non-dilutive award from
Innovate UK's Future Economy Investor Partnership scheme.
Right targets, right vectors, right patients, right
time
Since incorporation in 2021, Infinitopes has moved swiftly to
cement its leadership position in cancer vaccines by overcoming
three key challenges in the field. Firstly, using its Precision
ImmunomicsTM antigen discovery technologies, the Company
can identify and rank tumour signatures, without prior bias,
enabling the accurate selection of novel, synergistic tumour
targets. Secondly, Infinitopes continues to develop safe and
effective, proprietary vector delivery systems, capable of
stimulating durable T-cell responses necessary to prevent the
recurrence of life-threatening cancer metastases. Finally, the
Company leverages its deep knowledge of immunology, partnering with
disease KOLs, in order to optimally schedule therapies to drive
maximal protection for patients.
Lead phase I/IIa on schedule to begin this autumn
Infinitopes' lead asset, a novel cancer vaccine called ITOP1, is
scheduled to commence a phase I/IIa study in first line cancer
patients in the third quarter of 2024. This rapid transition into
the clinic has become possible after receiving an Innovative
Licensing & Access Pathway (ILAP) innovation passport from the
UK's Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
in August 2022.
Best-in-class antigen discovery
The new investment accelerates the installation of best in
class, next generation LC-MS/MS mass spectrometer equipment,
enhancing the company's proprietary tumour antigen discovery and
computational immunobiology/AI/machine learning techniques, to
identify and rank the best target combinations, to treat five more
cancers.
Supported by Cancer Research UK
Infinitopes is a Cancer Research UK (CRUK)-led spinout from
Oxford University, combining underlying
technologies, know-how, patents and licenses that were developed
with CRUK funding across the laboratories of Professor Paul Klenerman and Associate Professor
Nicola Ternette, and clinical
programmes led by Professor Mark
Middleton.
Jonathan Kwok, CEO and
co-founder of Infinitopes said:
"Since founding in September
2021, Infinitopes has established world leading
capabilities to design, develop, and clinically evaluate an
exciting new class of precision targeted, durable cancer vaccines.
Our therapies are emerging at a time when blockbuster checkpoint
inhibitors are hitting their peak, capable of preventing tumour
recurrence in 30-40 per cent of patients at best. Our preclinical
results suggest that our vaccines may significantly outperform
them, to transform care for future cancer patients. We're excited
to announce this fundraise, which enables us to pursue our uniquely
integrated strategy of selecting the right targets, with the right
vectors, for the right patients, at the right time in their
treatment journey. We continue to seek academic and Big Pharma
collaborators, smart technical investors, and passionate new hires
and interns to join our mission to cure cancer."
Phil Masterson, Associate
Director, Cancer Research Horizons commented:
"Infinitopes is at the forefront of the cancer vaccine
revolution emerging from Covid-era technology advances. Cancer
Research Horizons' investment strategy focuses on maximising
patient impact – Infinitopes is empowering the immune system to
fight the cancer metastases that cause 70 to 90 percent of cancer
deaths through better targeting, better delivery mechanisms and
better clinical trials. We are delighted to support the
building of a leading company based on innovative CRUK-funded
foundational science."
Hugo Villanueva, Octopus
Ventures, said:
"At Octopus Ventures, we back the entrepreneurs who are
revitalising healthcare. The Infinitopes team is a great example of
this ─ their work to design, develop and clinically assess novel
cancer vaccines is incredibly important, and we're delighted to
support them in their work to combat cancer."
John W Cassidy, General Partner, Kindred Capital,
added:
"At Kindred, we don't just invest; we partner with
trailblazers who reimagine the future. Infinitopes exemplifies this
spirit, weaving together scientific acumen with technological
foresight to architect the next frontier in cancer care. This
significant funding milestone underscores our collective commitment
to empower healthcare innovation that promises not only to
challenge the current paradigms but to redefine them. Infinitopes
is charting a bold course towards a world where cancer is no longer
a formidable foe but a conquerable condition. We are delighted to
support them in this mission."
Julia Schrameier, Investor at Manta Ray, added:
"Our initial investment in Infinitopes in December 2022 was driven by our strong conviction
that they were the right team at the right time to create a leading
computational, proteomics-driven antigen discovery platform. Their
focus on accessible, non-personalised treatments, combined with the
team's deep scientific expertise and remarkable track record,
distinctly set them apart from other companies in the space. After
observing their impressive progress and growth over the past year,
our conviction has only strengthened. Working with Jonathan and his
team has been remarkable, and we are excited to follow our initial
investment and continue supporting Infinitopes on its journey to
cure cancer, one epitope at a time."
Infinitopes presented at the 8th Immuno Oncology
Europe (London, April 23-25) and Immuno'24 (London, April
25-26) last week, and will attend the 7th
European Neoantigen Summit (Amsterdam, April 29-May
1), and BioEquity (San Sebastián, May
12-14).
About Infinitopes
Infinitopes Ltd is a soon to be clinical stage, integrated
cancer biotechnology company supported by Cancer Research UK (CRUK)
and the University of Oxford. The
Company combines two world leading platforms, in precision antigen
discovery and in high efficiency, vector delivery systems, to
develop immunologically durable vaccines for use against multiple
solid tumour indications. The lead vaccine candidate is expected to
begin phase I/IIa trials in Q3 2024. Infinitopes has cultivated
in-house talent across antigen discovery, immunology, vaccinology,
oncology, biomanufacturing, trials and regulation, winning an
'Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway' (ILAP) innovation
passport from the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory
Agency (MHRA) in 2022. Infinitopes has also won two prestigious,
maximum size nondilutive awards from Innovate UK, a Cancer
Therapeutics Award (in 2022) and a Future Economy Investor
Partnership (in 2023). In 2024, the company closed its £12.8 m seed
financing. Since incorporation, the Infinitopes team has grown from
three co-founders to 28 full time equivalents, and is now the
largest tenant of Oxford University's
BioEscalator Innovation Building. For more information, visit
www.infinitopes.com
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