Epsilogen – a leader in the development of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to treat cancer – announced today the completion of a £12.5 million Series B expansion financing, bringing the Series B total to £43.25 million. The funding will accelerate the delivery of clinical Proof of Concept for lead asset MOv18 IgE in a phase Ib trial featuring platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC) and further development of the company’s IgE-based pipeline. The funding was entirely conducted by existing investors, including British Patient Capital, Novartis Venture Fund, Epidarex Capital, 3B Future Health Fund, and ALSA Ventures.
MOv18 IgE is the first therapeutic IgE antibody to enter the clinic. This antibody targets folate receptor alpha (FRα), which is an antigen present in a variety of cancers, including ovarian, endometrial, lung, and triple-negative breast cancer. During a phase I trial, MOv18 IgE was found to be safe and well tolerated, with initial signs of clinical activity also seen. The Phase Ib trial is a two-part, dose escalation and expansion trial in patients with FRα-positive PROC whose disease has progressed after ≤4 prior regimens of anti-cancer therapy.
MOv18 IgE has a unique action mechanism that differentiates it from other agents currently in the clinic and on the market. And the key aspects of this mechanism include high affinity binding to its main cognate receptor, FcεR1, thereby enabling immunosurveillance and potent myeloid cell-driven tumor cell killing. Plus, IgE antibodies drive modulation of the tumour immune microenvironment to become more pro-inflammatory, leading to increased intra-tumoural levels of activated T cells and tumor-killing macrophages.
KEY QUOTE:
“We are delighted to have received strong continued support from our existing investors and we thank them. The promise of IgE to treat cancer is based upon its unique mechanism of action and MOv18 IgE is the first ever to be tested in man. Everything is ready for phase Ib initiation which will occur shortly and we look forward to reporting progress from the trial.”
– Tim Wilson, CEO of Epsilogen
