The scope of cancer immunotherapy is expanding with new approaches to drugs targeting more types of immune cells. ImCheck Therapeutics’ contribution is a drug that could offer advantages over first-generation cancer immunotherapies.Now The biotech company has 96 million euros This will help continue clinical development of its lead therapeutic candidate and build a series of additional programs beyond cancer.
ImCheck is developing antibody drugs against caseins, a family of proteins expressed on immune cells. The Marseille, France-based company’s approach involves generating antibodies for each member of the family to activate or suppress different types of immune cells. The technology can be applied to infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases, but cancer is the initial focus of the biotechnology.
According to ImCheck, its activating antibodies may be able to provide better outcomes than first-generation checkpoint inhibitors, a type of cancer immunotherapy made by antibodies that block so-called checkpoint proteins. composition, the protein prevents immune cells from recognizing tumors. But ImCheck doesn’t do away with the checkpoint drug category entirely. The company added that the combination of its drug with checkpoint inhibitors may be able to overcome cancer resistance to checkpoint blockers.
The most advanced ImCheck drug candidate, ICT01, is an antibody designed to activate gamma delta T cells. The company says the drug modulates innate and adaptive immune responses. The drug entered the clinic in 2020. With the new funding, ImCheck plans to continue phase 2 development of the drug, including testing in solid tumors and blood cancers. The company also plans to complete combined testing of the drug with checkpoint inhibitors in multiple solid tumors. Additional combinations are in development, including one pairing this leading ImCheck antibody with cytokine therapy, particularly IL-2.
ImCheck competes in chasing buytrophilin drug antibodies. Lava Therapeutics is also developing antibodies against these proteins to activate gamma delta T cells. This activation releases molecules that kill cancer cells and produces signaling proteins called cytokines that boost the immune response by recruiting other immune cells to fight, the Netherlands-based biotech company said.
Lava’s most advanced drug candidate, LAVA-051, targets a protein called CD1d expressed by tumors. It is currently in Phase 1 testing for blood cancers including chronic lymphocytic leukemia, multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukemia. The company also aims to use this approach for solid tumors. The next state-of-the-art program in Lava’s pipeline, LAVA-1207, is in Phase 1/2 testing in prostate cancer.
Meanwhile, Shattuck Labs is developing fusion proteins designed to activate gamma delta T cells. Others are trying to convert these immune cells into cell therapy.Companies using this approach include creature will be added and In8Bio. All three companies have reached the early clinical development stage.
ImCheck said it has raised a total of 154 million euros ($160.5 million) since its inception. The company’s latest funding, announced Monday, is an 80 million euro ($86 million) Series C round co-led by Earlybird and Andera Partners. Additionally, ImCheck announced 16 million euros (about $17.2 million), the final tranche of the Series B round to convert into Series C stock.
Invus and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Therapeutic Accelerator Program joined the latest round as new investors. Additional investors participating in the round include founding investors Kurma Partners, Eurazeo, Gimv, EQT Life Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Ventures, Pfizer Ventures, Bpifrance, Wellington Partners, Agent Capital, Pureos Bioventures and Alexandria Venture Investments’ Early Investor Growth Opportunities Fund. .
Public area picture by the National Cancer Institute
