Epitopea Expands Clinical and Research Teams to Advance RNA-Based Immunotherapies

Epitopea, a transatlantic cancer immunotherapeutics company, has announced the formation of a dedicated clinical team and the expansion of its research team as it accelerates the development of its RNA-based immunotherapies. The company is focused on creating off-the-shelf treatments targeting Cryptigen™ tumor-specific antigens (TSAs), which are aberrantly expressed antigens derived from non-coding regions of the genome, commonly referred to as "junk DNA."

The establishment of a clinical team marks a significant milestone in Epitopea's transition from a preclinical to a clinical-stage company. This move is supported by the company's proprietary CryptoMap™ platform, which enables the identification of novel Cryptigen™ TSAs shared across patients with the same tumor type. These antigens serve as the foundation for Epitopea's RNA-based immunotherapies aimed at hard-to-treat cancers.

In addition to internal growth, Epitopea has engaged in strategic collaborations to bolster its development efforts. Notably, the company has entered into a license and research collaboration agreement with MSD (Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA) to identify Cryptigen™ TSAs for an undisclosed solid tumor. Under this agreement, Epitopea will utilize its CryptoMap™ platform to discover and provide novel, immunogenic Cryptigen™ TSAs, while MSD will have the exclusive right to develop and commercialize therapeutics derived from the collaboration. Epitopea stands to receive an undisclosed upfront payment and is eligible for milestone payments that could total up to $300 million per product .

These developments underscore Epitopea's commitment to advancing its pipeline of RNA-based immunotherapies and its mission to provide accessible treatments for patients with hard-to-treat cancers.