A Next-generation targeted immuno-oncology therapy

Project Information

NEXIM

Grant agreement ID: 868342

DOI

10.3030/868342

Project closed

EC signature date 15 April 2019

Start date 1 May 2019

End date 31 October 2019

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

TARGIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS AG
Switzerland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NEXIM (A Next-generation targeted immuno-oncology therapy)

Reporting period: 2019-05-01 to 2019-10-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

TargImmune Therapeutics AG is working to develop novel immunotherapies to treat solid tumors with high unmet need. Despite enormous medical progress, aggressive forms of cancer remain one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Advanced prostate, lung, breast and colon cancer account for a combined mortality of approximately 0,8M lives in Europe per year. Immunotherapies, a new form of cancer treatment that activates the patient’s own immune system, have shown enormous promise in the treatment of aggressive cancer. Despite the promise, current immunotherapies are only effective in 15-25% of patients, drugs of which are also associated with severe side effects. What is needed is therefore a next-generation immunotherapy that delivers consistent efficacy across broad patient populations whilst ensuring improved safety.

Targimmune's work is important for society as it is directly addresses the burden of cancer. In Europe, over 875,000 deaths are attributed to the most common forms of cancer, which include breast, prostate, lung and colorectal cancer. For many of these cancers, 5-year survival rates can be as low as 12%. To compound the burden, incidence rates of cancer are only growing, where over 24 million cancer patients globally are expected by 2024.

In this feasibility study, the overall objective was to perform competitor, market and funding feasibility on TargImmune's pipeline drugs, and to update their business plan with results from the study.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The work performed as part of the feasibility study follows that outlined in the Implementation Section of the NEXIM proposal.

TASK1: Using desk research, competitor analyses for all 3 drug assets were performed.
Main result: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors, anti-EGFR, anti-HER2 and anti-PDL1 antibodies, radio-labelled drugs, vaccines and antibody-drug conjugates are all forms of competitor drugs for the 3 drug assets. Compared to these treatments, TargImmune’s assets present significant advantage in potentital efficacy and safety addressing metastatic and heterogeneous solid tumors.

TASK 2: Using a combination of desk research and KOL interviews, possible target indications and their market opportunities for each of the drug assets were assessed.
Main result: The most attractive indications for all three drug assets were identified

TASK 3: In this task, sections of our business plan was updated.
Main result: The Market Opportunities sections for TAR001 and TAR002 were expanded in describing the commercial, technical and clinical justifications for selecting specific target indications.

TASK 4: In this task, we performed a detailed search of the non-dilutive funding opportunities, both nationally and internationally.
Main result: Available grant opportunities were identified and potential projects for each grant were defined.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

In this study we gained further insight into the market and patient needs, and therefore the feasibility of our drug assets.

MAIN IMPACT: The main impact of the study will be de-risked and expedited drug development pathways for our drug assets. This feasibility study has allowed us to select the main target indications on which to focus, as to allow for the most clinically impactful, fastest and most profitable strategy towards commercialization.

SOCIETAL IMPACT: The outline of a sound drug development pathway will allow us to accelerate development of our assets towards clinical trials. This in turn reduces the time to which our drugs will have ultimate impact on the patients they are designed the treat.

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