Hephaistos Pharma is developing engineered immune sensor modulators that activate TLR4 pathways to enhance immune responses against cold tumors, which are resistant to existing immunotherapies. Their lead candidate, HEPHA-440, has shown preclinical efficacy in treating refractory liquid and solid cancers, including osteosarcoma, and is set to enter clinical trials by 2027.
Funding
$11.3M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
FMXSFounders
Product
Problem
Many cancer patients do not respond to existing immunotherapies, as their tumors are "cold" and lack active T-cell infiltration, allowing cancer cells to evade the immune system. Current immunotherapies often fail to address the underlying causes of tumor immune escape, including sub-activation of immune cancer killers, their difficulty in reaching the tumor site, and their lack of functionality.
Solution
Hephaistos Pharma is developing engineered immune sensor modulators that activate TLR4 pathways to stimulate innate immunity and enhance immune responses against cold tumors. Their approach involves a new generation of detoxified and augmented TLR4 activators, designed to widen the therapeutic window and enable a systemic approach to cancer immune evasion. By simultaneously addressing the sub-activation, trafficking, and functionality of immune cancer killers, Hephaistos aims to convert cold tumors into hot tumors, making them susceptible to immune attack. The company's lead candidate, HEPHA-440, has demonstrated preclinical efficacy in treating refractory liquid and solid cancers, including osteosarcoma.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes patients with refractory liquid and solid tumors, particularly those with cold tumors that are resistant to existing immunotherapies, and the clinicians who treat them.
Features
- Engineered TLR4 agonists designed for systemic administration
- Detoxified and augmented molecules to improve the therapeutic index
- Mechanism of action targets multiple causes of tumor immune escape
- Preclinical data demonstrating anti-tumor activity in refractory cancers
- HEPHA-440: Lead candidate with orphan drug designation for osteosarcoma
- Pipeline includes programs for solid tumors, hematologic malignancies, and human vaccines