Bergen-based clinical stage immune-oncology startup Cytovation ASA has successfully secured an additional $8 million (NOK 85M) in a Series A funding round, with participation from existing investors Sandwater and Canica. This latest influx of funds brings the total Series A funding for the company to over $28 million. Cytovation, which emerged as a spin-off from the esteemed University of Bergen, focuses on the development of CyPep-1, an innovative immunotherapy designed to selectively target tumor cells. By creating pores in the tumor cell membranes, CyPep-1 triggers an immune response that enhances tumor-specific immunity. The fresh investment will bolster the advancement of Cytovation’s lead asset, CyPep-1, as it enters a comprehensive Phase 2 program, aiming to tackle solid tumors.
With its distinctive multi-modal mechanism of action, CyPep-1 holds the potential to revolutionize the treatment landscape for solid tumors. By specifically targeting phospholipids in cancer cells, it facilitates the formation of pores in the plasma membrane. This process not only releases antigens to the immune system but also fosters an inflammatory microenvironment. Consequently, it stimulates a tumor-specific immune response akin to in situ vaccination, resulting in the elimination of cancer cells.
Lars Prestegarden, MD, PhD, CEO of Cytovation, commented: “We are delighted to announce the successful closing of this latest financing round following our initial $20 million Series A round in January 2022, allowing us to advance CyPep-1 towards clinical proof of concept in Phase 2. We continue to make excellent progress in our ongoing Phase 1/2 CICILIA solid tumor basket trial, and with our IND in hand we will now expand clinical development to the US. We look forward to announcing initial results from CICILIA, including in combination with pembrolizumab, in the second half of 2023.”
The financing round extension was co-led by existing investors Sandwater, a Norwegian venture capital firm that invests in ground-breaking companies with a positive impact across a range of industries including life science, and Canica, a large, privately owned investment company operating out of Norway and Switzerland that is focused on building highly innovative companies that aim to create value for investors and society. Cytovation also welcomed participation from several new investors reflecting the growing interest in the potential of CyPep-1 as a first-in-class targeted tumor membrane immunotherapy.
Cytovation’s 57-patient Phase 1/2 CICILIA solid tumor basket trial is now well advanced, with top line results due in H2 2023. The Phase 2a monotherapy expansion arm builds on strong Phase 1 monotherapy data, which demonstrated a favorable safety profile along with early signals of efficacy in several tumor types. CICILIA also includes an arm in which CyPep-1 is combined with pembrolizumab, as part of an ongoing clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Merck/MSD.
Cytovation is seeking to develop CyPep-1 in selected neoplastic orphan indications that may allow an expedited pathway to a first approval, while supporting the broader potential of CyPep-1 across a range of solid tumors.
Given the significant potential of CyPep-1, Cytovation recently announced the expansion of its senior management team with the hiring of Iman Barilero, PharmD, PhD, as Chief Development Officer, and
Helen Blanco, MBA, as VP Operations. These new team members will be central to the Company’s mission to develop CyPep-1 to enhance the lives of cancer patients suffering from a variety of solid tumors.
