A biopharmaceutical company focused on cancer
Invectys Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of innovative immunotherapy approaches to treat cancers. It was founded in 2010 by two veterans from the Institut Pasteur :
- Pierre Langlade-Demoyen, co-founder and CEO, former Laboratory Director at the Institut Pasteur
- Simon Wain-Hobson, co-founder and Board member, Head of the Molecular Retrovirology Unit at the Institut Pasteur
Invectys develops a novel approach to mobilizing and restoring the anti-tumor capacity of the immune system of cancer patients. This allows virtually all cancers to be targeted. Invectys focuses its efforts on two highly prevalent tumor antigens: the HLA-G immune checkpoint expressed in over 50% of cancers and the nearly-universal tumor antigen telomerase that is critical to uncontrolled cell growth.
Invectys has created two complementary technological platforms to reach its goals:
- HLA-G-based therapies
- Telomerase-based vaccines, with INVAC-1 and UCPVax
With its most recent funding of €15 million in October 2018, Invectys raised more than €38 million and represents one of the largest immune-oncology financing rounds in Europe. It is backed by French and international private investors and has received financial grants from the French state.
Invectys’ approach has significant benefits compared to traditional oncology approaches:
- targets most cancers
- induces higher and more robust anti-tumor responses than those obtained with other products
- a very innovative approach with no marketed competing products
- addresses an unmet market
- is more cost effective than competing treatments.
Core Assets to be Funded
- Lead platform: therapies based on the novel Immune Checkpoint HLA-G
- INMAB: Checkpoint inhibitor Monoclonal antibodies
- CAR-T cells targeting HLA-G
- INVAC-1: State-of-the-art DNA Vaccine developed trough proprietary human telomerase vaccine platform
- Phase IIa in planning in multiple indications, standalone or in combinations
- Efficacy: 65% one-year survival rate, 58% patients experiencing disease stabilisation, 6 patients still alive as of June 2020
- UCPVax: telomerase peptide vaccine, designed to activate CD4+ helper T cells
- Encouraging pre-clinical results: confirmed specificity of the immune response, proliferation of Th1 cells, increased tumor-specific CD8+ response, no serious vaccine-related toxicity
- Phase I/II in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) at the Besançon University
- Early clinical results: increased CD4+ response against telomerase in 60% of patients
Invectys highlights & achievements
- An advanced pipeline exploiting several technologies:
- Innovative HLA-G platform with both MAb and CAR-T potential
- Telomerase-based therapeutic vaccines
- Invac-1 potential in multiple cancers:
- Multiple avenues for combination studies
- Unique prophylactic potential in early-stage and rapid-progression malignancies
- Dominant know-how in Telomerase approaches:
- Institut Pasteur legacy
- Ongoing academic studies at University of Besançon
- Multiple opportunities for partnership with pharma companies
- Strong IP (14 patents filed)
- Historic shareholder support
- Talented and seasoned team
