Akamis Bio is a clinical-stage oncology company using its T-SIGn® Tumor-Specific Immuno-Gene platform to deliver immunotherapeutic proteins, biomolecules and transgene combinations to treat solid tumors. Its lead program, NG-350A, is an intravenously delivered tumor gene therapy designed to drive intratumoral expression of a CD40 agonist monoclonal antibody. NG-350A is being evaluated in ongoing Phase 1 studies and Akamis has commenced the Phase 1b FORTRESS proof-of-concept study in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer to assess clinical complete response rates with chemoradiotherapy. Data from the FORTITUDE first-in-human dose escalation study showed a consistent safety profile, tumor-selective delivery, replication and transgene expression and favorable PK/PD versus intratumoral injection. The company aims to deliver clinical proof-of-concept data for NG-350A over the next 12–18 months and to expand a pipeline of IV-delivered, tumor-targeted immunotherapies. Financially, Akamis announced $60 million in funding tied to the Series A Prime close and a strategic Greater China licensing agreement for NG-350A. Akamis Bio develops Tumor-Specific Immuno-Gene (T-SIGn®) therapeutics—viral vector–based tumor gene therapies that home to and replicate in primary and metastatic solid tumors after intravenous delivery. The platform drives intratumoral expression of multiple immunologically active biomolecules and therapeutic proteins; lead programs are NG-350A (CD40 agonist expression) and NG-641 (FAP‑CD3 bispecific plus CXCL9, CXCL10, and interferon‑alpha). Both NG-350A and NG-641 are in Phase 1 studies in patients with metastatic or advanced epithelial-derived solid tumors, being evaluated as monotherapy and in combination with checkpoint inhibitors. Across more than 200 patients treated to date, T-SIGn® therapeutics have shown a consistent safety profile and preliminary signals of activity (dose-dependent cytokine elevations and increased CD8+ tumor infiltrates). The company plans to initiate expansion cohort studies for NG-350A and NG-641 in early 2024 and will use new financing to advance those clinical programs. Akamis recently relaunched from PsiOxus Therapeutics, has established a US hub in Kendall Square, Cambridge, and maintains platform collaborations with BMS, Merck, and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. PsiOxus Therapeutics is an Oxford-based development-stage oncolytic immuno-oncology company focused on its intravenously deliverable oncolytic virus, enadenotucirev, and the AbEnAd "armed" virus platform. Enadenotucirev has shown in phase I trials the ability to selectively infect tumour cells after intravenous infusion and to induce T-cell infiltration in colorectal tumours. The company will use the £25M Series C to conduct a phase I study combining enadenotucirev with an immune-checkpoint inhibitor in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The AbEnAd platform is being developed to arm enadenotucirev to force cancer cells to produce therapeutic antibodies (including anti-PD-L1 and anti-CTLA4 in preclinical studies) and can carry multiple payload types such as proteins, peptides and RNAi. The armed platform is in preclinical stage while the parent unarmed EnAd is in phase I/II clinical trials across tumour types. PsiOxus plans to progress a preferred internal candidate with the new funding and continue to seek partnerships for other applications. PsiOxus develops ColoAd1, an oncolytic vaccine designed to selectively destroy tumour cells at minute concentrations. The company is advancing ColoAd1 into a phase I/II clinical trial (OCTAVE) targeting platinum-resistant, recurrent ovarian cancer. OCTAVE will be the second clinical trial of ColoAd1 and is planned to assess more than 50 ovarian cancer patients at multiple UK cancer centres beginning in 2013. The company intends to use the newly awarded funding to initiate that clinical study. PsiOxus is led by CEO John Beadle and lists Imperial Innovations, Invesco Perpetual, Mercia Fund, Lundbeck Ventures and SR One among its portfolio backers. The company received a government-backed grant to support its clinical development efforts. PsiOxus Therapeutics is a development-stage biotech commercialising technologies generated in leading UK universities to address cancer and other unmet medical needs. Its lead candidate, ColoAd1, is a systemically administered oncolytic vaccine engineered to replicate in and kill cancer cells while sparing normal cells. The company describes ColoAd1 as a self-amplifying therapy with both direct tumor-killing and cancer vaccine effects. PsiOxus plans to advance ColoAd1 through a series of phase I and phase II clinical trials for colorectal and other solid tumours, with the first clinical trial due to start later this year. The company also has MT-102, an ACTA in phase II for cachexia and sarcopenia, and research-stage platforms PolySTAR and PolyMAP. The recent financing is intended to fund the transition of its cancer portfolio from early- to mid-stage clinical development.

Total raised

$166M

Funding rounds

5

Latest round

Series A

Latest activity

Dec 2024