ImmunOs Therapeutics AG, a Schlieren (Zurich Area), Switzerland-based biopharmaceutical company leveraging its HLA-based technology platform to develop first-in-class therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, raised $74 million in Series B financing.
The round was led by new investors Samsara BioCapital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Gimv, and joined by new investors Mission BioCapital, GL Capital, PEAK6 Strategic Capital, and Fiscus Financial, as well as existing investors Pfizer Ventures, BioMed Partners, and Schroder Adveq. In connection with the financing, Shelley Chu, MD, PhD, Partner at Lightspeed, Marcos Milla, PhD, Venture Partner at Samsara, and Andreas Jurgeit, PhD, Partner at Gimv, will join the company’s Board of Directors, which currently includes:
- Reinhard Ambros, PhD, Chairperson and former Head of the Novartis Venture Fund,
- Daniel Vasella, MD, Vice Chairperson and former Chairperson and CEO of Novartis AG,
- Markus Hosang, PhD, General Partner at BioMed Partners,
- Michael Baran, PhD, Partner at Pfizer Ventures, and
- Sean R. Smith, CEO of ImmunOs.
The proceeds of the Series B will be used to fund the clinical development of ImmunOs’ lead program, IOS-1002 (formerly iosH2), through Phase 2 clinical trials and to progress additional oncology and autoimmune disease programs within the company´s HLA-based pipeline towards clinical development. IOS-1002 is a first-in-class, multi-functional agent based on a naturally occurring human leukocyte antigen (HLA) that targets key components of the innate immune system, including LILRB1 (ILT2), LILRB2 (ILT4), and KIR3DL1, and synergizes with the adaptive immune system, thereby leading to profound anti-tumor activity. A Phase 1 clinical trial is planned to start in the second half of 2022.
ImmunOs Therapeutics leverages its HLA-based technology platform to develop first-in-class therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. The company has identified specific HLA molecules known to activate the immune system and is utilizing these HLA molecules as the backbone of novel therapies capable of stimulating both the innate and the adaptive immune systems of cancer patients to eliminate tumor cells. ImmunOs’ lead program is a multi-functional fusion protein that blocks specific LILRB (leukocyte immunoglobulin-like) and KIR (killer cell immunoglobulin-like) receptors and activates anti-tumor responses. The company is also developing antibodies to block the activation of specific HLA protein molecules associated with autoimmune diseases.
Additionally, ImmunOs has established a U.S. subsidiary to further expand its international reach, execute future U.S. clinical trials, and strengthen its transatlantic operations and team.
FinSMEs
07/06/2022