18 May 2018 - - Albuquerque, New Mexico-based cancer immunotherapy and vaccine developer Agilvax, Inc. has closed a series A1 financing, which complements the series A round from 2014, the company said.
Both series A and A1 were led by Hunt Holdings with a co-investment by Sun Mountain Capital.
The funds will be used to expand the pre-IND studies for its lead program AX09 in triple negative breast cancer. The company is also evaluating the use of AX09 in combination with other cancer therapeutics, as well as strengthening its immunotherapy platform.
AX09 is a virus-like particle that displays a portion of the extracellular domain of the cystine-glutamate antiporter system protein xCT (SLC7A11), which has been found to be overexpressed in cancer stem cells which have unique biological properties that represent a key cellular reservoir for relapse, metastatic progression, and therapeutic resistance.
The development of therapies that eliminate cancer stem cells is paramount to creating a durable response.
Agilvax is a biotechnology company that develops targeted cancer immunotherapies and vaccines using its proprietary VLP discovery and development technology.
Its pipeline and drug discovery platform are based on VLPs derived from RNA bacteriophage that have been engineered to display antigens in an ordered geometric pattern, which can be utilised to stimulate robust and specific immune responses to both foreign pathogens and self-antigens.
The company has headquarters in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and offices in El Paso, Texas.