ErVimmune, a Lyon, France-based biotechnology company developing next-generation therapeutic cancer vaccines targeting “unconventional” tumor antigens derived from human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), has raised €17 million ($19.8 million) in the first closing of its Series A financing. The round included participation from existing shareholder Seventure Partners and new investor SPRIM Global Investments, and is expected to be supplemented by additional non-dilutive funding support tied to Bpifrance and the France 2030 program.
The company said the proceeds will fund clinical development of its lead candidate, ErVac01, a heterologous vaccine formulation containing a collection of HERV-derived epitopes intended to cover the majority of the global population across HLA alleles. By focusing on shared antigens across patients and tumors, ErVimmune aims to develop a ready-to-use product rather than a personalized therapy, with an initial focus on “cold” tumors such as triple-negative breast cancer and ovarian cancer that often respond poorly to checkpoint inhibitors. The financing will support a first-in-human clinical trial to assess safety and immunogenicity.
ErVimmune also appointed biotech entrepreneur and executive Eric Halioua as executive chairman of its board. The company highlighted Halioua’s track record in founding and leading biotechnology businesses, including roles as former president and CEO of PDC*line Pharma and CEO of Promethera Biosciences, as well as his prior experience at Arthur D. Little’s Healthcare & Life Sciences practice.
The Series A round remains open to additional investors, and the company said future capital would further support ErVac01’s development in triple-negative breast cancer and ovarian cancer and expansion of its platform toward additional oncology indications targeting other HERV-derived antigens.
KEY QUOTES:
“This funding marks a critical milestone in bringing our off-the-shelf cancer vaccine to the clinic. Our approach has the potential to transform treatment options for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers.”
Prof. Stéphane Depil, MD, PhD, Founder And Board Member, ErVimmune
“This financial backing enables us to accelerate the development of our lead vaccine candidate ErVac01. We are excited to move forward into our first-in-human clinical phase and to build the foundations for a broader therapeutic platform.”
Nathalie Donne, EMBA, CEO, ErVimmune
“We are delighted to continue supporting ErVimmune as it enters this critical clinical phase. The company is opening a new frontier in cancer immunotherapy. Advancing ErVac01 into the clinic is a decisive step toward translating this innovative vaccine platform into tangible benefits for patients.”
Isabelle de Crémoux, CEO And Managing Partner, Seventure Partners
“We are eager to support ErVimmune’s lead program, ErVac01, as it enters its first clinical study. This financing marks an inflection point in validating ErVimmune’s proprietary antigen discovery platform, heralding a new era of shared, off-the-shelf cancer immunotherapies. A successful outcome will enable the generation of successive waves of proprietary therapeutic candidates targeting untapped HERV antigens across multiple oncology indications.”
Michael Shleifer, Founding Partner, SPRIM Global Investments
“ErVimmune is entering a defining phase in its development now it has the financial means to advance into the clinic. I look forward to working closely with the team and the board to support clinical execution, strategic partnerships and long-term value creation to build a leading immuno-oncology company.”
Eric Halioua, Executive Chairman, Board Of Directors, ErVimmune
