Brenus Pharma, a French biotech firm specializing within the improvement of most cancers vaccines, introduced the completion of a €22.2 million Sequence A financing spherical. The spherical is led by Angelor, an funding fund bringing collectively a cluster of buyers from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (AURA) area, together with UI Investissement/Kreaxi, Crédit Agricole Centre-France and Crédit Agricole Centre-Est. Belgian funds Noshaq and Investsud full this vital deal.
Collectively, they be part of co-founder and lead investor Jacques Gardette (BIOJAG) and long-time investor Stéphane Legastellois (33 CALIFORNIE). As well as, Brenus Pharma has acquired non-dilutive funding from the French authorities and Bpifrance, as beneficiary of the France 2030 name for tasks.
The proceeds might be used to completely fund the STC-1010 most cancers vaccine’s first-in-human proof-of-concept, in first line settings for metastatical colorectal most cancers sufferers. STC-1010 is the primary vaccine candidate based mostly on the STC ‘Stimulated-Tumor-(ghost)-Cells’ know-how platform developed by Brenus Pharma. Adaptive and modern, this platform makes use of an in-depth understanding of the complexity of most cancers to supply a brand new kind of precision therapy, enabling Brenus Pharma to present sufferers’ immune methods a head-start by anticipating the development of their illness.
Jacques Gardette, Chairman of Bio Jag, commented: “Brenus Pharma has taken a serious step ahead. The arrival of funding professionals in our younger firm confirms the curiosity we’re arousing. After the creation and sale of Biocorp to Novo Nordisk in 2023, Brenus Pharma now has our full consideration to assist the corporate obtain its bold objectives. I’m satisfied that the fixed dedication and innovation of the Brenus workforce have constructed a stable basis for tackling one of many world’s most advanced therapeutic challenges. Throughout it’s speedy improvement, Brenus has demonstrated boldness, achievement and resilience within the biotech subject.”
Marie Chambodut, Companion, and Funding Director at Angelor, added: “We’re proud to guide this strategic transaction for Brenus Pharma to assist the scientific improvement of their most cancers vaccines, together with STC-1010, the primary and most superior program to emerge from the platform. We sit up for becoming a member of Paul and his distinctive workforce in remodeling Brenus into a worldwide participant in precision immuno-oncology, bringing options to hundreds of thousands of sufferers experiencing therapy failure, and contributing to the event of the French biotherapeutics trade.”
The funds raised will allow the STC platform to be deployed in people from the tip of the yr, beginning with STC-1010, which might be administered as a first-line therapy in sufferers with unresectable metastatic colorectal most cancers (mCRC) proof against immunotherapies (pMMR/MSS and dMMR/MSI-H). On the similar time, STC-1010 might be prolonged to different kinds of gastric tumors, akin to these of the pancreas and liver. Lastly, Brenus Pharma intends to speed up the event of its portfolio in different stable tumor indications, notably with STC-1020, our second candidate in improvement.
Hélène Sabatel, Funding Supervisor at Noshaq, mentioned: “Along with our colleagues at InvestSud, we’re delighted to assist the Brenus Pharma workforce within the improvement of this cutting-edge technological platform, as we’re satisfied of its future affect for sufferers at the moment with out concrete therapeutic options. We’re additionally enthusiastic concerning the prospect of welcoming a Brenus R&D department to the Liège area quickly, and we hope that this new Franco-Belgian collaboration between two biotech ecosystems will present the corporate with optimum assist for its improvement.”
Paul Bravetti, Chief Government Officer of Brenus Pharma, added: “We’re delighted to welcome top-tier buyers who’ve been a part of current French success tales (Mablink, Amolyt Pharma). This is a vital milestone for Brenus Pharma, confirming the potential of the STC platform, and of STC-1010, which has already demonstrated stable proof of efficacy in numerous preclinical fashions. I wish to thank all our workforce for his or her motivation and their passionate work to quickly deliver a brand new therapeutic answer to sufferers. Our shared ambition is to place our platform on the forefront of the nationwide and worldwide scene, and to change into a frontrunner in next-generation most cancers immunotherapies.”
