- Pfizer takes equity stake in Imcyse as part of the recently announced Rheumatoid Arthritis license agreement
- Major existing shareholders participated in the round
- Proceeds to advance Imcyse’s pipeline of first-in-class targeted disease modifying immunotherapeutics
Liège, Belgium, February 17, 2021 – Imcyse, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of a new class of active and specific immunotherapies for the treatment of severe autoimmune diseases, today announced that it has concluded a Series B extension financing round, raising EUR 21.3 million (USD 25.8 million). Participants of the new round included existing investors, Biogenosis, Epimede, LSP, Noshaq, Société Régionale d'Investissement de Wallonie (SRIW), Société Fédérale de Participations et d'Investissement (SFPI) and KU Leuven. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) also participated as Imcyse’s newest investor taking an equity stake in the Company as part of the license agreement for Imcyse’s Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) program based on the Company’s Imotope™ technology announced on February 3, 2021.
Denis Bedoret, Imcyse CEO, commented: “Completing this financing round reinforces the strength of the Company allowing us to advance our programs to the next phase of development. Our aim is to be a major player in active specific immunotherapy. In this pursuit, we have taken our lead Imotope™ candidate into phase 2 for Type 1 Diabetes and have four other programs running in Multiple Sclerosis, Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders, Celiac Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis. I would like to express our gratitude to our existing shareholders and to our new investor, Pfizer, for their support and confidence in our Imotope™ platform.”
Proceeds from the latest financing round will be used to accelerate the advancement of several first-in-class targeted disease modifying immunotherapeutics, developing a robust and diverse clinical pipeline. In accordance with Imcyse’s corporate strategy, the Company remains open to new partnerships and investors to further support its development and expansion into the U.S.
Imotope™ platform to prevent, stop and potentially cure autoimmune diseases
The Imcyse Imotope™ platform represents a next generation and potentially curative approach to severe autoimmune diseases for which there is no satisfactory therapy. Imotopes™ induce cytolytic T cells, which specifically eliminate the aberrant disease pathway while leaving the rest of the immune system unaffected. In addition to the Type 1 Diabetes program, its Multiple Sclerosis candidate is expected to commence clinical trials by 2022. In RA, Pfizer and Imcyse will collaborate to develop existing lead candidates and further optimize potential molecules. After a candidateis selected, Pfizer will lead clinical development and commercialisation activities.
ABOUT IMCYSE
Imcyse is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of a new class of active specific immunotherapies for the treatment of severe chronic autoimmune diseases. The company’s unique technology platform allows it to locally target immune cells involved in the destruction of the diseased organ. This platform is based on the administration of Imotopes™, which are specifically modified peptides, allowing for the generation of cytolytic CD4 T-cells, that specifically eliminate antigen-presenting cells and autoantigen specific lymphocytes. Imcyse’s approach, sustained over time, helps to prevent and treat diseases with no current therapeutic alternative and to potentially cure patients without impairing immune defense. The company has established proof of concept in several indications and has completed its first clinical trial in type 1 diabetes with promising results. Beyond type 1 diabetes, Imcyse is developing a pipeline of Imotopes™ for the treatment of several autoimmune diseases. Founded as a spin-off of the Catholic University of Leuven in 2011, Imcyse subsequently relocated to Liège, Belgium.
www.imcyse.com
