5 June, 2023 – The biotech Neomatrix today announced that it has closed a seed funding of EUR 2 millions led by 2Invest AG and i2i Capital Limited. The funds will be used to support discovery and development of personalized cancer vaccines based on innovative DNA technology. Neomatrix approach combines a deep knowledge in cancer biology, the prediction of “neoantigens”, i.e. the flags that allow the immune system to specifically target cancer cells and a cutting-edge vaccine design and delivery platform.
“We are pleased to partner with investors who support the development of an Italian Biotech focusing on personalized cancer vaccines and immune-oncology. As the field is rapidly progressing, we believe that our approach can make the difference for Cancer patients with a breakthrough technology platform”, said Luigi Aurisicchio, Ph.D, Chief Executive Officer and President of Neomatrix.
Neomatrix was born in 2020 as a spinoff of Takis, a biotech based in Rome and with a strong expertise in gene therapy and genetic vectors. Takis’ COVID-eVax, a vaccine against COVID-19 based on plasmid DNA successfully completed a phase 1 trial, with over 90% of volunteers developing a specific immune response against SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. The vaccine is based on an innovative system that uses the "electroporation" of DNA, which favors its entry into cells and increases the immune response.
Neomatrix’ personalized cancer vaccines are based on the same electroporation delivery and an innovative, fully synthetic DNA platform developed at 4basebio in UK.
"This financing round starts the regulatory path with the technology we developed in the last few years that is now mature for clinical application. Our objective is to run a first-in-man trial based on our bioinformatics tools and genetic vaccine delivery using a complete synthetic DNA” says Fabio Palombo, founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Neomatrix.
Hansjörg Plaggemars representing 2Invest and i2i said “We are excited to work with the team at Neomatrix to develop its proprietary process that has already shown very promising immunological and efficacy results in preclinical models”. Heikki Lanckriet, CEO/CSO at 4basebio said: “We are delighted to be working with Neomatrix in the delivery of neoantigen cancer vaccines. The synthetic DNA platform will allow to significantly shorten the needle-to-needle time required to manufacture personalized vaccines.”
Finally, Aurisicchio concluded: "Thanks to synthetic DNA technology and what we have learned with COVID-eVax experience, we are confident that personalized cancer vaccines can be manufactured in a few weeks and administered to cancer patients. We welcome 2Invest AG and i2i Capital Limited strategic investments and are confident that this will help and encourage the Research in our region to make Europe more competitive”.
For more info:
Dr Luigi Aurisicchio (CEO)
Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo.
Dr Fabio Palombo (CSO)
Questo indirizzo email è protetto dagli spambots. È necessario abilitare JavaScript per vederlo.
Neomatrix
Neomatrix is a biotech company created by a group of scientists with solid experience in Pharma and Biotech. The group has more than 15 years of experience and proven expertise in drug discovery in Oncology and is recognized for the design and implementation of a number of innovative technologies, including that of DNA gene therapy. Neomatrix’ core assets is its experience in the prediction of neoantigens and with electroporation delivery system, a technology that can be used for a variety of clinically useful applications, from vaccine development to somatic gene therapy.
For more info, visit www.neomatrixbiotech.com
2Invest AG
2invest AG is a listed company that acquires, holds, manages and sells shares in companies and partnerships, mainly - but not exclusively - in the biotechnology, life sciences and IT sectors as well as in the natural resources in Germany and abroad. Global investments or investments in unlisted companies or financial instruments are also possible. Investment decisions are made on the basis of interesting risk/return profiles. The company is listed on the General Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Ticker: 2INV; ISIN: DE000A3H3L44).
I2i Capital Limited
I2i Capital Limited is a UK company focussed on investments in the field of life sciences.
