Vittoria Biotherapeutics Secures $25M for Cell Therapy Development

Vittoria Biotherapeutics, Inc., an immunotherapy company in the clinical stage, has successfully closed a $25 million private financing round. This recent funding extends the previous $15 million financing obtained in November 2023 by an additional $10 million. The financing was led by Valley Forge Investment Corporation and included new contributions from the Global BioAccess Fund and Hatch Biofund, as well as continued support from existing investors such as Agent Capital, Tellus BioVentures, NYBC Ventures, and the University of Pennsylvania.

The primary allocation of the funds will support the Phase 1 clinical trial of Vittoria’s leading oncology candidate, VIPER-101. This therapy is an autologous, dual-population T cell treatment aimed at T-cell Lymphoma. VIPER-101 utilizes Vittoria’s proprietary Senza5TM platform technology, which enhances the function of T cells by negating CD5-mediated immunosuppression through gene editing. Additionally, the platform includes a swift, five-day manufacturing process that improves production efficiency and functional outcomes in preclinical testing. Senza5 has demonstrated significant preclinical anti-tumor efficacy in various liquid and solid tumor models. Vittoria Biotherapeutics also has a broader pipeline that includes new assets for treating solid tumors and autoimmune diseases.

Dr. Nicholas Siciliano, CEO of Vittoria Biotherapeutics, expressed that this milestone signifies a vote of confidence from both current and new investors, reinforcing their commitment to developing innovative immunotherapies. He emphasized that the new capital will expedite the clinical development of VIPER-101, with the hope of offering substantial therapeutic benefits to patients dealing with T-cell Lymphoma.

Brian McElwee, President of Valley Forge Investment Corporation, highlighted the recent advancements in next-generation cell therapies, which underscore Vittoria's potential to transform cancer treatment. He noted that Vittoria's advanced platform and unique pipeline position the company to make a considerable impact, and Valley Forge is excited to support these efforts as VIPER-101 progresses into clinical trials with the potential to improve outcomes for T-cell Lymphoma patients.

As part of the financing arrangement, Michael F. Young, a Partner at Valley Forge Investment Corporation, will join Vittoria Biotherapeutics' Board of Directors. The clinical trial for VIPER-101 is currently recruiting patients, and more information can be found on ClinicalTrials.gov under the identifier NCT06420089.

VIPER-101 is a gene-edited, autologous cell therapy designed for patients with T-cell lymphoma, targeting CD5, which is found on cancer cells in over 85% of T-cell lymphoma cases. The therapy leverages the Senza5 platform, enhancing T cell function by overcoming CD5-mediated immunosuppression through gene editing. In preclinical studies, VIPER-101 has shown improved efficacy compared to traditional CD5-targeted CAR T therapies.

Vittoria Biotherapeutics, Inc. is focused on developing novel CAR T-cell therapies that push beyond the limitations of current treatments. The company’s proprietary Senza5 platform, based on exclusive technology from the University of Pennsylvania, enhances the cytotoxic potential of engineered T cells and employs a five-day manufacturing process to optimize stemness, durability, and potency. By targeting the fundamental biology of T cells, Senza5 aims to improve engineered T-cell therapies' efficacy, with applications in oncology and autoimmune diseases.