Immunicum and PCI Biotech Holding have announced an extension of their current research collaboration to explore novel cancer vaccination treatments.
The companies jointly research the possibility to overcome current hurdles in cancer immunotherapy by introducing tumor independent immune targets into the tumor microenvironment, in combination with vaccination or adoptive immunotherapies. The so-called Tumor Independent Antigen concept, which has been invented by Immunicum, could benefit from PCI Biotech’s antigen delivery technologies based on Photochemical Internalization.
“At Immunicum, we are continuously studying novel immunotherapy concepts aimed to address hard-to-treat established tumors and to overcome the limitations of currently available cancer therapies. In this collaboration, we are combining our know-how and technology basis with that of PCI Biotech to design potential novel therapeutic concepts and we look forward to advancing the collaboration through in vivo studies as an important next step,” says Erik Manting, CEO of Immunicum.
Encouraging initial results
Following the encouraging results of the first set of in vitro experiments, during which the delivery protocol of the combination treatment has been optimized, the companies have decided to move ahead to evaluate the novel therapeutic concept in animal models, they state. While the first experiments were conducted by Immunicum, this further in vivo evaluation will be carried out by PCI Biotech.
“The results of the initial collaborative experiments are encouraging, supporting the immune response enhancing capability of the fimaVACC platform technology.”
“The results of the initial collaborative experiments are encouraging, supporting the immune response enhancing capability of the fimaVACC platform technology. We are committed to this collaboration and are looking forward to the next series of experiments in animal models, which are aimed to generate data that could pave the way to a potential joint development program,” says PCI Biotech’s CEO, Per Walday.
Photo of Per Walday and Erik Manting
