Date: 2017-07-05
Type of information: Financing round
Company: Anaeropharma Science (Japan)
Investors: Novartis (Switzerland) Shinsei Corporate Investment (Japan) Seventure Partners (France) Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (Japan) Mitsubishi UFJ Capital (Japan)
Amount: $13.2 million
Funding type: financing round
Planned used:
- Anaeropharma Science is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in research and development of drug candidates that target hypoxic microenvironments of tumors by using recombinant Bifidobacterium.
- Necrotic areas of solid tumors are generally anaerobic or hypoxic as compared with the normal tissues. The decreased vascular perfusion around tumor areas makes delivery of chemotherapeutic agents challenging. In an aim to improve drug delivery efficiency, Anaeropharma Science has developed in situ delivery and production System or i-DPS by modifying a non-pathogenic anaerobic bacteria, B. longum, which localizes and proliferates in the anaerobic environment, to produce anticancer proteins, enzymes or other pharmacologically active molecules selectively at tumor site.
i-DPS is designed to deliver engineered B. longum which expresses active molecules selectively to hypoxic disease sites.
- The funds will be used to accelerate the development of multiple programs based on its proprietary platform technology.
- The pipeline includes 4 main programs. APS001F is a recombinant Bifidobacterium longum modified to express cytosine deaminase gene, which results in overexpression of the enzyme. When APS001F is administered intravenously to tumor-bearing mice, the bacteria localize and grow specifically in the tumors, but not in normal tissues. When flucytosine (5-FC, a fluorinated analog of cytosine that is approved for use as an anti-fungal agent) is administered in the presence of APS001F, the cytosine deaminase enzyme converts the cytosine residue of 5-FC to uracil, producing Fluorouracil (5-FU), an established cancer chemotherapeutic agent. 5-FC is inherently less toxic than 5-FU. It is anticipated that higher intra-tumoral 5-FU concentrations will be achieved with APS001F than with systemic administration of 5-FU because APS001F-mediated 5-FU delivery to the tumor will not be limited by systemic toxicity. A Phase I/II trial of APS001F is currently ongoing in US.
- Two other programs are focused on cancer immunotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors (anti-PD-1/CTLA4 antibodies). Anaeropharma Science is developing anti-CTLA4 antibody scFv production system of B. longum and Anti-PD-1 & anti-CTLA4 scFvs producing B. longum which could be specifically delivered to and amplified only at hypoxic sites of solid cancers.
- Colonization and continuous amplification of anti-CTLA4 scFv producing B. longum in hypoxic sites of solid tumor constantly secrete anti-CTLA4 scFv to stimulate immune system, fighting tumor cells inside of hypoxic tumor without nonspecifically attacking normal tissues.
- Specific delivery to hypoxic tumor and the feasibility of manufacturing ensure that dual scFvs, anti-PD-1 scFv and anti-CTLA4 scFv producing i-DPS may contribute to addressing immune related adverse event problems and provide a better cost-performance compared to current antibody drugs.
- The fourth program is targeting critical limb ischemia (CLI), a peripheral arterial disease with a severe obstruction of the arteries which markedly reduces blood flow to the lower extremities that progresses to the point of severe pain, tissue loss and worsening claudication symptoms. FGF2 expression i-DPS is designed to produce FGF2 at hypoxic lesions of chronic limb ischemia to promote vascularization and improve blood flow.
Others:
- • On July 5, 2017, Anaeropharma Science announced it has secured US$13.2 million in new capital. The participants in the financing round include three new investors, Novartis, Shinsei Corporate Investment Limited and Seventure Partners’ Health for Life Capital fund, and two existing investors, Innovation Network Corporation of Japan and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital’s managed fund.
Therapeutic area: Cancer - Oncology - Cardiovascular diseases
Is general: Yes
