- The Series A round, led by a group of French investors in
association with Belgian investment funds, will be used to finance
the first Phase I/IIA clinical trial of Brenus’ first candidate,
STC-1010, in metastatic colorectal cancer, as well as the
development of a second candidate in another solid tumor indication
(STC-1020).
- These projects are based on the proprietary STC
'Stimulated-Tumor-(ghost)-Cell' platform, which enables the
generation of first line cancer vaccines, and position Brenus
Pharma as a major player in developing next-generation
immunotherapies.
- Cancer is an evolving target that constantly adapts to
escape the immune system. It remains one of the most difficult
diseases to treat. Every year, 19 million new patients are
diagnosed worldwide, and the associated mortality is estimated at
10 million. Brenus Pharma will meet this high unmet need thanks to
its innovation from end of 2024 with its first clinical trial in
France, Belgium and the USA.
Brenus Pharma, a biotech company specializing in the development
of cancer vaccines, announces the completion of a $25 million
Series A financing round.
The round is led by Angelor, an investment fund bringing
together a cluster of investors from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
(AURA) region, including UI Investissement for the Fonds régional
Avenir industrie Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Crédit Agricole
Centre-France and Crédit Agricole Centre-Est, with 2 family
offices. Belgian funds Noshaq and Investsud complete this
significant deal. Together, they join co-founder and lead investor
Jacques Gardette (BIOJAG) and long-time investor Stéphane
Legastelois (33 CALIFORNIE). In addition, Brenus Pharma has
received non-dilutive funding from the French government and
Bpifrance, as beneficiary of the France 2030 call for projects.
Jacques GARDETTE, BIOJAG Chairman commented: “Brenus
Pharma has taken a major step forward. The arrival of investment
professionals in our young company confirms the interest we are
arousing. After the creation and sale of Biocorp to Novo Nordisk in
2023, Brenus Pharma now has our full attention to help the company
achieve its ambitious goals. I'm convinced that the constant
commitment and innovation of the Brenus team have built a solid
foundation for tackling one of the world's most complex therapeutic
challenges. During it’s rapid development, Brenus has demonstrated
boldness, achievement and resilience in the biotech field.”
The proceeds will be used to fully fund the STC-1010 cancer
vaccine’s first-in-human proof-of-concept, in first line settings
for metastatical colorectal cancer patients. STC-1010 is the first
vaccine candidate based on the STC 'Stimulated-Tumor-(ghost)-Cells'
technology platform developed by Brenus Pharma. Adaptive and
innovative, this platform uses an in-depth understanding of the
complexity of cancer to offer a new type of precision treatment,
enabling Brenus Pharma to give patients' immune systems a
head-start by anticipating the progression of their disease.
Marie CHAMBODUT, Partner, and Investment Director at Angelor,
added: “We are proud to lead this strategic transaction for
Brenus Pharma to support the clinical development of their cancer
vaccines, including STC-1010, the first and most advanced program
to emerge from the platform. We look forward to joining Paul and
his exceptional team in transforming Brenus into a global player in
precision immuno-oncology, bringing solutions to millions of
patients experiencing treatment failure, and contributing to the
development of the French biotherapeutics industry.”
Hélène SABATEL, Investment Manager at Noshaq, said:
“Together with our colleagues at InvestSud, we are delighted to
support the Brenus Pharma team in the development of this
cutting-edge technological platform, as we are convinced of its
future impact for patients currently without concrete therapeutic
solutions. We are also enthusiastic about the prospect of welcoming
a Brenus R&D branch to the Liège region soon, and we hope that
this new Franco-Belgian collaboration between two biotech
ecosystems will provide the company with optimal support for its
development.”
The funds raised will enable the STC platform to be deployed in
humans from the end of the year, starting with STC-1010, which will
be administered as a first-line treatment in patients with
unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) resistant to
immunotherapies (pMMR/MSS and dMMR/MSI-H). At the same time,
STC-1010 will be extended to other types of gastric tumors, such as
those of the pancreas and liver. Finally, Brenus Pharma intends to
accelerate the development of its portfolio in other solid tumor
indications, notably with STC-1020, our second candidate in
development.
Paul BRAVETTI, Chief Executive Officer of Brenus Pharma,
added: “We are delighted to welcome top-tier investors who have
been part of recent French success stories (Mablink, Amolyt
Pharma). This is an important milestone for Brenus Pharma,
confirming the potential of the STC platform, and of STC-1010,
which has already demonstrated solid proof of efficacy in various
preclinical models. I would like to thank all our team for their
motivation and their passionate work to rapidly bring a new
therapeutic solution to patients. Our shared ambition is to
position our platform at the forefront of the national and
international scene, and to become a leader in next-generation
cancer immunotherapies.”
A PRESSING NEED FOR SOLUTION
This cutting-edge technology is based on proteomics-guided
anti-cancer vaccines, and sparked from the ambition to produce, in
France, an innovative biotherapy on an industrial scale capable of
responding to a significant public health challenge: 90% of
patients treated for solid tumors will suffer a relapse, while by
2022, 10 million of them will have reached a therapeutic dead-end
leading to their death. This figure is set to rise by 70% by 2045
(Source: Cancer Tomorrow | IARC - https://gco.iarc.who.int).
The technology developed by Brenus Pharma not only treats the
immediate threat, but also defends the immune system against tumors
that may appear later, thereby reducing the risk of relapse. To
achieve this, STC reproduces in the laboratory the resistance and
escape mechanisms of tumor cells, to educate the patient's immune
system to detect and destroy them, thanks to the widest panel of
therapeutic targets currently available (over 200 tumor
antigens).
With proven expertise in CMC and a standardized, ready-to-use
production process, it ensures rapid availability to patients in
need, with controlled costs and supply chain, outpacing
personalized approaches and autologous vaccines in development.
THE “BREAK-CRC” STUDY IS DESIGNED TO CONFIRM THE THERAPEUTIC
POTENTIAL OF STC-1010
STC-1010's phase I/IIA “BreAK-CRC” study is currently under
review by the European regulatory authorities and will be conducted
with the participation of expert clinicians in early-phase
immuno-oncology units in Europe, and subsequently in the United
States. It is based on very positive preclinical studies obtained
in vitro, in ovo and ex vivo, showing extremely encouraging safety
and efficacy results, validated by a committee of international
immuno-oncology experts.
Phase I will evaluate the tolerability of different dose levels
of STC-1010, combined with low-dose immunostimulants and standard
chemotherapy. Subsequently, the Phase IIA study will further
evaluate treatment efficacy, with a particular focus on
progression-free survival at 12 months. Innovative exploratory
assays will evaluate the immune response and the dynamics of
circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). The ambition is to make STC platform
products a permanent part of precision medicine by anticipating
patient responses, thanks to a set of analyses unprecedented at
this level of development.
About Brenus Pharma:
Brenus Pharma develops its proteomics-guided allogeneic cancer
vaccines, generated by the patented STC
'Stimulated-Tumor-(ghost)-Cell' platform for the treatment of solid
tumors. STC mimics the relapse conditions of patients' tumor cells
to educate their immune systems to be able to anticipate, target
and destroy these tumor cells as soon as they appear. Brenus
intends to change a paradigm in oncology, by making patients once
again actors in their treatment. www.brenus-pharma.com
About Angelor:
Founded in 2008, Angelor is an independent venture capital
company based in Lyon, with a mission to “develop finance that
serves the common good”. Today, recognized for the quality of its
shareholder base and the companies it finances, Angelor has
federated over 250 shareholders, most of whom are experienced
business leaders committed to financing and supporting innovative
entrepreneurs in their sector. Angelor has invested close to €30
million in 76 start-ups, particularly in the healthcare, agri-food
and environment sectors - helping to create over 700 direct jobs,
mainly in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
www.angelor.fr
About UI Investissement:
UI Investissement is an independent company specializing in the
development of unlisted French companies. For over 50 years, UI has
been committed to working alongside the managers of growing SMEs
and ETIs to create and develop economically and sustainably
successful businesses.
UI Investissement manages close to 1.5 billion euros in assets
and invests with 400 managers in business sectors essential to
society, such as healthcare, agri-business, industry and services.
Expansion and buyout capital, the historical core of UI's business,
accounts for over half of assets under management, and enables more
than 50 companies to benefit from the operational expertise and
methodological tools developed by UI. At the same time, the teams
and investment vehicles dedicated to innovation and consolidation
enable us to support companies throughout their life cycle and
contribute to the economic dynamism of the regions.
Today, UI has over 70 employees and more than ten regional
offices in Nantes, Orléans, Rennes, Caen, Reims, Strasbourg, Dijon,
Besançon, Clermont-Ferrand, Lyon, Limoges, Marseille and Lille, in
addition to its teams in Paris. www.ui-investissement.fr
About Fonds Régional Avenir Industrie:
Created in November 2023 by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, the
Fonds Régional Avenir Industrie Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes aims to
contribute to the financing of innovative startups in the seed
phase, industrialization phase, and mature companies in the growth
phase based in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Managed by UI
Investissement, the fund has an initial capital of €50 million, 50%
of which comes from European funds, thanks to support from ERDF
(European Regional Development Fund). It brings together the
strengths of the region, mobilized to support the regional economy
and create local, sustainable jobs.
About CA Centre-Est Création:
A regional player in innovation capital for over 25 years, CA
Création is the Crédit Agricole Centre-Est subsidiary dedicated to
providing capital support for young innovative companies. The fund
supports start-ups in its region (Ain, Rhône, Saône-et-Loire,
northern Ardèche, Drôme and Isère) in their technological
development and commercial acceleration, in a wide range of sectors
(healthcare, digital, industry, etc.), in partnership with leading
players in innovation capital. Driven by the values of the
mutualist model, CA Création brings the Crédit Agricole Group's
diverse expertise to bear on its investments.
www.credit-agricole.fr/ca-centrest
About CACF Capital Innovation:
With its 2,400 employees and 230 branches, Crédit Agricole
Centre France is a responsible and useful bank, serving its 900,000
customers. Present in Auvergne and Limousin (Allier, Cantal,
Corrèze, Creuse, Puy-de-Dôme), it is committed daily to the growth
of its territory, of which it is the leading financier. Created in
2018, CACF Capital innovation is a subsidiary of Caisse Régionale
de Centre France. Thanks to its recognized know-how and more than
20 years' experience in private equity, it provides day-to-day
support for the development of innovative companies in its
territory, in a wide range of fields, including healthcare,
industry and new technologies. The bank is proud to support this
project, initiated by one of its customers, Jacques Gardette,
Chairman of Brenus Pharma.
www.credit-agricole.fr/ca-centrefrance
About Noshaq:
Noshaq is an investment fund and project developer with a
portfolio of 474 companies and 700 million euros in assets. Noshaq
is the benchmark financial partner for the creation and development
of SMEs in the Liège region. Over the years, Noshaq has developed a
panel of financing vehicles in line with market needs and trends
and with its strategy. Each service offering proposed by Noshaq is
always determined according to the demand and needs of the
owner-investor. The aim is always to leverage the company's
development. www.noshaq.be
About Investsud:
Investsud invests and invests sustainably, alongside
entrepreneurs, to amplify their ambitions in terms of innovation,
development and, when the time comes, the transfer of their SMEs.
Investsud makes capital accessible through flexible, innovative
solutions based on risk-sharing and alignment of interests with its
partners. As SME specialists, active since 1983 in over 300
companies, we are hands-on players who cultivate a passion for
entrepreneurship. We cultivate sustainability, quality and sharing
in our relationships with our partners. www.investsud.be
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240917301654/en/
Brenus Pharma Marion BRUN, Scientific and institutional
communications manager / contact@brenus-pharma.com Ulysse
communication – Press Relations Bruno ARABIAN:
barabian@ulysse-communication.com / +33 (0)6 87 88 47 26