Epitopea and Genevant Sciences Form Collaboration Agreement

Epitopea, a company operating in both the UK and Canada, is advancing the realm of cancer treatment through innovative RNA-based immunotherapies. The company has embarked on a strategic collaboration with Genevant Sciences, a renowned entity in nucleic acid delivery, to develop new immunotherapies utilizing lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology. This partnership focuses on targeting Epitopea’s unique aberrantly-expressed tumor-specific antigens, known as Cryptigens™, for a specific but undisclosed oncology application.

The collaboration involves a nonexclusive license agreement, allowing Epitopea to leverage Genevant’s LNP technology. This access is pivotal for Epitopea’s mission to expedite the clinical development of their next-generation, off-the-shelf RNA-based treatments aimed at enhancing patient outcomes. Alan Rigby, CEO of Epitopea, expressed optimism about the collaboration, emphasizing the importance of integrating Genevant’s proven LNP delivery systems into their therapeutic strategy.

Genevant Sciences brings decades of expertise in the field of nucleic acid delivery, with a portfolio that includes the pioneering LNP platform. This technology has been instrumental in various RNA-based applications, including vaccines and therapeutic proteins. James Heyes, Chief Scientific Officer of Genevant, noted the company’s enthusiasm for working with Epitopea to push the boundaries of cancer treatment and improve clinical response durability.

Under the terms of their agreement, Genevant will receive significant financial compensation, including up to $123.5 million in upfront and milestone payments for each product developed, as well as tiered royalties based on future sales. This financial structure underscores the potential value and impact of the collaborative efforts between the two companies.

Epitopea focuses on developing immunotherapies tailored for difficult-to-treat cancers, utilizing Cryptigen™ TSAs that are expressed exclusively by tumor cells but are shared across various patients with similar cancer types. These antigens were identified using Epitopea’s proprietary CryptoMap™ platform, which integrates advanced techniques in immunopeptidomics, genomics, and bioinformatics to uncover tumor-specific antigens hidden within cancer’s non-coding DNA segments. The initial discovery of these Cryptigen™ TSAs was spearheaded by researchers Drs. Claude Perreault and Pierre Thibault at the Université de Montréal.

Launched in 2021, Epitopea was established with support from major life science investors such as Advent Life Sciences, Cambridge Innovation Capital, and Investissement Québec. The company consists of entities based in Cambridge, UK, and Montreal, Canada, and aims to revolutionize the accessibility and effectiveness of cancer immunotherapies.

Genevant Sciences stands at the forefront of nucleic acid delivery, with a robust LNP patent portfolio and extensive experience in the development and delivery of nucleic acid drugs. Their pioneering efforts have facilitated the deployment of systemic RNA-LNP products, broadening the horizon for RNA-based applications such as gene editing and therapeutic protein production.

The collaboration between Epitopea and Genevant signifies a promising advancement in cancer immunotherapy. By combining Epitopea’s innovative antigen discovery with Genevant’s advanced delivery technologies, the alliance aims to bring forth novel treatments that could significantly extend the clinical benefits for cancer patients globally.