Oslo, Norway, November 30, 2021 - PCI Biotech Holding ASA (OSE: PCIB), a cancer
focused biopharmaceutical company with a unique intracellular delivery
technology via Photochemical Internalisation and Immunicum AB (publ; IMMU.ST), a
biopharmaceutical company focused on hard-to-treat established tumors and the
prevention of cancer recurrence, announced today an extension of their current
collaboration.
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 Internalisation. 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. While the first experiments were conducted by Immunicum, this further in
vivo evaluation will be carried out by PCI Biotech.
Commenting on the announcement PCI Biotech's CEO, Per Walday said: "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."
Erik Manting, CEO of Immunicum added: "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."
Please see attachment for the full press release.
Contact information:
Per Walday, CEO
pw@pcibiotech.no (mailto:pw@pcibiotech.no)
Mobile: +47 917 93 429
About Immunicum AB
Immunicum is a biopharmaceutical company focused on hard-to-treat established
tumors and the prevention of cancer recurrence, two key challenges in oncology.
We are leveraging our unparalleled expertise in allogeneic dendritic cell
biology to develop an advanced clinical pipeline of novel, off-the-shelf, cell-
based therapies for solid and blood-borne tumors. Based in Sweden and the
Netherlands, Immunicum is publicly traded on the Nasdaq Stockholm.
www.immunicum.com
About PCI Biotech
PCI Biotech is a biopharmaceutical late-stage clinical development company
focusing on development and commercialisation of novel therapies for the
treatment of cancer through its innovative photochemical internalisation (PCI)
technology platform. PCI is applied to three distinct anticancer paradigms:
fimaChem (enhancement of chemotherapeutics for localised treatment of cancer),
fimaVacc (T-cell induction technology for therapeutic vaccination), and fimaNAc
(nucleic acid therapeutics delivery).
Photochemical internalisation induces triggered endosomal release that is used
to unlock the true potential of a wide array of therapeutic modalities. The
company's lead programme fimaChem consists of a pivotal study in bile duct
cancer, an orphan indication with a high unmet need and without approved
products. fimaVacc applies a unique mode of action to enhance the essential
cytotoxic effect of therapeutic cancer vaccines, which works in synergy with
several other state-of-the-art vaccination technologies. fimaNAc utilises the
endosomal release to provide intracellular delivery of nucleic acids, such as
mRNA and RNAi therapeutics, thereby addressing one of the major bottlenecks
facing this emerging and promising field.
For further information, please visit: www.pcibiotech.com
(http://www.pcibiotech.com)
Forward-looking statements
This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, which as such are not
historical facts, but are based upon various assumptions, many of which are
based, in turn, upon further assumptions. These assumptions are inherently
subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
important factors. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important
factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations
expressed or implied in this announcement by such forward-looking statements.
PCI Biotech disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.