Volume 12 Issue 4, October 2018

Promethera is developing HepaStem, a unique cell therapy that expresses mesenchymal stem cells with immunomodulatory properties suitable for the treatment of a number of hepatic diseases.

Jaan Biotherapeutics is developing first-in-class therapies that repair damaged heart muscle and treat cardiovascular diseases by reactivating an endogenous regeneration process that has been shut down in the adult human heart during evolution, but is active in human fetal hearts.

Nutech Mediworld is addressing unmet medical needs including central nervous system disorders and dermatology indications with clinically validated allogenic stem cell therapy.

Against the backdrop of a very deep and broad pipeline, the next breakthroughs in the immuno-oncology space will hinge on leveraging partnerships to improve existing therapies and to develop new strategies.

Swiss-based AMAL Therapeutics is developing KISIMA, a unique protein-based immunization platform capable of producing single therapeutic vaccines for immunotherapy and beyond.

Karma Oncology combines a flexible virtual business model with expertise in oncology clinical trials to provide a bespoke contract clinical research service for biotechnology companies globally.

ABL Bio’s immuno-oncology programs are addressing the limitations of current checkpoint inhibitors by developing bispecific antibodies and the next generation of checkpoint inhibitors.

BioWin, the health competitiveness cluster of Wallonia, Belgium, is the region’s point of reference across biopharma and medtech. Cancer immunotherapy has rapidly emerged as a focal point of BioWin’s uniquely collaborative ecosystem, owing to the local high density of cancer and immunology players.

Melbourne-based Patrys has developed the Deoxymab platform, a unique technology able to produce antibodies that not only target and penetrate cancer cells, but bind to their DNA and block their repair enzymes, halting further progression.

The Center of Molecular Immunology, a core institute of the Cuban organization of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries, BioCubaFarma, specializes in the development and manufacture of monoclonal antibodies, immunomodulators and molecular vaccines for cancer immunotherapy.

Pacific Edge’s state-of-the-art suite of bladder cancer detection and management tests are noninvasive, highly effective, and more accurate than other urine-based cancer diagnostic tests, and are now being adopted into the standard of care.

Engineered agonist or antagonist versions of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, or IL-13 successfully stimulate tumor-killing immune cells or disrupt the tumor microenvironment while they synergize with other cancer immunotherapy platforms for potent, targeted treatment.

Pelican Therapeutics’ PTX-35, a novel agonist antibody, amplifies CD8+ antitumor T cell responses via a novel costimulatory target.

Cold Genesys is developing CG0070, a promising oncolytic virus that is proving successful in trials as a single agent, with near-term plans to develop it in combination with immuno-oncology agents.

In the wake of the surge of interest in bispecific antibodies for cancer therapy, bispecifics are now being pursued in a wide range of other disease areas, driving further dealmaking.

YUMAB, a global provider of fully human monoclonal antibody discovery and development, delivers the antibodies closest to germline on the market. The company provides crucial support to innovators such as Singapore-based startup Enleofen Bio, an exciting new player in fibrosis.

NBE-Therapeutics is developing a novel class of immune-stimulatory antibody drug conjugates (iADCs) that not only target and destroy cancer cells, but also trigger long-lasting antitumor immunity.

The Antibody Lab’s proprietary cell line development technology enables drug developers to move seamlessly from preclinical discovery to manufacture of the biologic for clinical testing. BESTcell clonal Chinese hamster ovary cell lines can be rapidly generated to enable preclinical testing of multiple biologic drug candidates. After selection of the final candidate, the respective cell line can be used to manufacture master cell banks. This revolutionary approach shortens timelines and reduces the reproducibility risk associated with changing the source of the biologic during research and development.