ImmusanT is a clinical-stage company leveraging its Epitope-Specific Immuno-Therapy (ESIT) platform to develop peptide-based immune therapies for autoimmune diseases. Its lead program, Nexvax2, is a peptide-based therapeutic vaccine in clinical development that has demonstrated safety and relevant bioactivity in multiple Phase 1 studies for celiac disease. The company plans to expand the application of its ESIT platform beyond celiac disease to develop a novel vaccine candidate for type 1 diabetes (T1D), translating insights and clinical experience from its celiac program. ImmusanT received an investment from the JDRF T1D Fund to accelerate this work; terms of the financing were not disclosed. The company describes ESIT as a precision-medicine approach aimed at restoring immune tolerance across a range of diseases. ImmusanT is based in Cambridge, Mass. ImmusanT is developing Nexvax2®, a therapeutic vaccine intended to reprogram T-cells and induce antigen-specific immune tolerance to gluten in celiac disease patients who carry HLA-DQ2.5. The company plans to use the Series C proceeds to fund a randomized Phase II clinical trial of escalating Nexvax2 doses as an adjunct to a gluten-free diet and to demonstrate proof of concept during a gluten challenge. Funds will also support advancement of its diagnostic biomarker program and expansion of its Epitope-Specific Immuno-Therapy (ESIT) platform. ImmusanT positions Nexvax2 as the only therapeutic approach in clinical development that targets the fundamental loss of immune tolerance to gluten. The company notes that approximately 90% of celiac patients carry the HLA-DQ2.5 immune recognition gene and that there is currently no FDA-approved therapeutic for celiac disease. ARCH Venture Partners’ involvement brings two ARCH partners to ImmusanT’s board, and MTS Health Partners advised on the transaction. ImmusanT is focused on restoring immune tolerance to gluten in celiac disease through an epitope-specific immunotherapy platform. Its lead product, Nexvax2, is an adjuvant-free immunotherapy composed of three gluten-derived peptides intended to tolerize patients to gluten. The company completed two Phase 1b studies that demonstrated safety, tolerability and relevant bioactivity, and used those results to design Phase 2 trials. ImmusanT is also developing a companion diagnostic to identify likely responders and a noninvasive, standalone blood-based diagnostic for celiac disease. The $12 million Series B financing announced will fund Phase 2 clinical development and continued diagnostics work. The company says its platform can be applied to other epitope-specific autoimmune diseases. ImmusanT is a Cambridge, Massachusetts–based biotechnology company focused on restoring tolerance to gluten in celiac disease. The company is developing an immunotherapeutic vaccine, Nexvax2®, alongside a companion diagnostic and monitoring tool for celiac disease. It is also developing a proprietary whole-blood functional T-cell test intended as a standalone diagnostic and as a monitoring tool for the therapeutic. ImmusanT plans to use the Series A proceeds to advance Nexvax2 to proof-of-concept and to support its companion diagnostic program. The company expects to initiate its next clinical trial in early 2012. ImmusanT is led by Founder, President and CEO Leslie J. Williams and Scientific Founder and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Bob Anderson. The Series A financing totaled $20m from Vatera Healthcare Partners LLC.

Total raised

$72M

Funding rounds

4

Latest round

Series C

Latest activity

Nov 2017