Nykode Therapeutics develops targeted immunotherapies using its Vaccibody platform to induce potent and durable immune responses. The platform delivers antigens to specific Antigen Presenting Cells, enabling tailored strategies for cancer and autoimmune diseases.
Funding
$25M 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.
Founders
Product
Problem
Developing effective immunotherapies for complex diseases like cancer and autoimmune conditions remains a significant challenge. Current approaches often struggle to elicit potent, long-lasting, and specific immune responses necessary for therapeutic efficacy.
Solution
Nykode Therapeutics utilizes its proprietary Vaccibody platform to engineer targeted immunotherapies designed to induce robust and durable immune responses. This platform focuses on directing antigens to specific Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs), a mechanism crucial for generating potent cellular and humoral immunity. The modular design of the Vaccibody molecule allows for tailored targeting strategies to optimize therapeutic outcomes across various disease areas. By leveraging this technology, Nykode aims to develop novel treatments with improved safety profiles for patients with significant unmet medical needs.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes patients and healthcare providers seeking advanced immunotherapy options for cancer and autoimmune diseases. The company also engages with pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners for collaborative development and commercialization.
Features
- **Vaccibody™ Platform:** A modular immunotherapy platform utilizing a molecule designed to induce potent, long-lasting, and specific immune responses by targeting antigens to Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs).
- **Targeted Antigen Delivery:** The platform's targeting unit directs antigens to specific APC subsets, influencing the type and strength of the immune response (e.g., CD8 T cell, CD4 T cell, or antibody responses).
- **DNA Plasmid Delivery:** Immunotherapies are delivered via a needle-free jet injector, introducing DNA plasmids into muscle cells to produce the Vaccibody protein.
- **Off-the-Shelf Immunotherapies:** Development of non-personalized immunotherapies targeting shared antigens for broad applicability in cancer and infectious diseases.
- **Individualized Cancer Immunotherapies:** Creation of personalized vaccines targeting patient-specific neoantigens, with a focus on rapid manufacturing and robust immune response induction.
- **Clinical Pipeline:** Development programs include VB10.16 (HPV16-positive cancers) and VB10.NEO (individualized neoantigen immunotherapy), with ongoing trials in oncology.
- **Partnerships:** Collaborations with leading biopharmaceutical companies, including Roche and Regeneron, to advance the development of immunotherapies for oncology and infectious diseases.