Infinitopes Precision Immunomics, an integrated cancer biotech integrating sophisticated platforms in precision antigen discovery with vaccine vectors capable of durably stimulating protective immune responses, announced the completion of a £12.8 million seed funding round led by Octopus Ventures.
The funding round was heavily oversubscribed and also drew in funds from Cancer Research Horizons, Cancer Research Institute, CRIS Cancer Foundation, Kindred Capital, Manta Ray, Martlet Capital, Meltwind Advisory, Saras Capital, Wilbe Capital, and expert angel investors. The funds raised combine new equity investment and a non-dilutive award from Innovate UK’s Future Economy Investor Partnership scheme.
Since launching in 2021, Infinitopes has solidified its leadership position in cancer vaccines by overcoming three key challenges. Firstly, using its Precision Immunomics antigen discovery technologies, the company can identify and rank tumor signatures without prior bias, enabling the accurate selection of novel, synergistic tumor targets. And Infinitopes continues to develop safe and effective proprietary vector delivery systems capable of stimulating durable T-cell responses necessary to prevent the recurrence of life-threatening cancer metastases. Lastly, the company utilizes its knowledge of immunology, partnering with disease KOLs, to optimally schedule therapies to drive maximal patient protection.
Infinitopes’ lead asset, a novel cancer vaccine called ITOP1, is scheduled to commence a phase I/IIa study in first-line cancer patients in the third quarter of this year. This transition into the clinic has become possible after receiving an Innovative Licensing & Access Pathway (ILAP) innovation passport from the UK’s Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in August 2022.
This new funding round accelerates the installation of best-in-class and next-generation LC-MS/MS mass spectrometer equipment, enhancing the company’s proprietary tumor antigen discovery and computational immunobiology/AI/machine learning techniques to identify and rank the best target combinations to treat five more cancers.
Infinitopes is a Cancer Research UK (CRUK)-led spinout from Oxford University, combining underlying technologies, know-how, patents and licenses that were developed with CRUK funding across the laboratories of Professor Paul Klenerman and Associate Professor Nicola Ternette, and clinical programs led by Professor Mark Middleton.
KEY QUOTES:
“Since founding in September 2021, Infinitopes has established world leading capabilities to design, develop, and clinically evaluate an exciting new class of precision targeted, durable cancer vaccines. Our therapies are emerging at a time when blockbuster checkpoint inhibitors are hitting their peak, capable of preventing tumour recurrence in 30-40 per cent of patients at best. Our preclinical results suggest that our vaccines may significantly outperform them, to transform care for future cancer patients. We’re excited to announce this fundraise, which enables us to pursue our uniquely integrated strategy of selecting the right targets, with the right vectors, for the right patients, at the right time in their treatment journey. We continue to seek academic and Big Pharma collaborators, smart technical investors, and passionate new hires and interns to join our mission to cure cancer.”
- Jonathan Kwok, CEO and co-founder of Infinitopes
“Infinitopes is at the forefront of the cancer vaccine revolution emerging from Covid-era technology advances. Cancer Research Horizons’ investment strategy focuses on maximising patient impact – Infinitopes is empowering the immune system to fight the cancer metastases that cause 70 to 90 percent of cancer deaths through better targeting, better delivery mechanisms and better clinical trials. We are delighted to support the building of a leading company based on innovative CRUK-funded foundational science.”
- Phil Masterson, Associate Director, Cancer Research Horizons
“At Octopus Ventures, we back the entrepreneurs who are revitalising healthcare. The Infinitopes team is a great example of this ─ their work to design, develop and clinically assess novel cancer vaccines is incredibly important, and we’re delighted to support them in their work to combat cancer.”
- Hugo Villanueva, Octopus Ventures
“At Kindred, we don’t just invest; we partner with trailblazers who reimagine the future. Infinitopes exemplifies this spirit, weaving together scientific acumen with technological foresight to architect the next frontier in cancer care. This significant funding milestone underscores our collective commitment to empower healthcare innovation that promises not only to challenge the current paradigms but to redefine them. Infinitopes is charting a bold course towards a world where cancer is no longer a formidable foe but a conquerable condition. We are delighted to support them in this mission.”
- John W Cassidy, General Partner, Kindred Capital
“Our initial investment in Infinitopes in December 2022 was driven by our strong conviction that they were the right team at the right time to create a leading computational, proteomics-driven antigen discovery platform. Their focus on accessible, non-personalised treatments, combined with the team’s deep scientific expertise and remarkable track record, distinctly set them apart from other companies in the space. After observing their impressive progress and growth over the past year, our conviction has only strengthened. Working with Jonathan and his team has been remarkable, and we are excited to follow our initial investment and continue supporting Infinitopes on its journey to cure cancer, one epitope at a time.”
- Julia Schrameier, Investor at Manta Ray
