Immunovo secures seed funding from venture capitalists
Signs partnering agreement with Pepscan, which takes minority interest in Immunovo
Immunovo, a Dutch biotechnology company developing a novel technology for the creation of a new generation of immunotherapeutics, has secured seed funding from Biox Biosciences and Lupus Ventures. The company combines the features of synthetic immunogen development with recent insights into mechanisms driving tumour growth and metastasis to create highly specific and powerful in vivo therapeutic immune responses.
Immunovo is a spin out from Pepscan Therapeutics in Lelystad. Its technology is based on the work of Pepscan’s founding scientist Rob Meloen.
Pepscan has signed a partnering agreement for its therapeutic vaccine portfolio with Immunovo and will receive an undisclosed cash payment as well as a minority interest in the new company.
Immunovo is led by ceo Joost van Bree and chief medical officer Evert Jan Schenkelaars and is based in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
As part of the seed funding, founding investors Jan van der Hoeven, Biox Biosciences and Cees de Wolff, Lupus Ventures, will join Immunovo’s board.
‘Pepscan has recently refocused its r&d programme on the application of its proprietary CLIPS protein mimicry technology for the generation of monoclonal antibodies and therapeutic peptides,’ said Wim Mol, ceo of Pepscan.
‘The agreement with Immunovo allows Pepscan to concentrate its resources on a focused execution of its research programme. We consider Immunovo as an ideal partner to enhance the value of the therapeutic vaccine portfolio we have developed over the years.’