On November 22, 2023 Oncovita, a biotech company specializing in the development of therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines, reported that it has won the « Innovations in biotherapies and bioproduction » call for projects under the « Biotherapies and bioproduction of innovative therapies » acceleration strategy of France 2030’s health component, the Innovation Santé 2030 plan (Press release, Oncovita, NOV 22, 2023, View Source [SID1234637935]). This financing, operated by Bpifrance, will provide Oncovita with €4.5 million. At the same time, the company is announcing a €3.5 M round of financing from private investors and business angels. These funds, totaling €8 million, will support the development of its immunotherapeutic cancer vaccine MVdeltaC.
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The €8 million will enable Oncovita to finance its ambitious development strategy, starting with the production of a first clinical batch of MVdeltaC, followed by the initiation of a phase 1/2a clinical trial in solid tumors during 2025. The company also plans to develop an innovative industrial production process to be used for MVdeltaC’s various clinical trials. It could also be applied to the production of other therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines developed by Oncovita.
« We would like to thank France 2030, Bpifrance and our investors for their confidence. The funds raised will enable us to accelerate the preclinical and clinical development of MVdeltaC. Our development program is ambitious. It includes the evaluation of MVdeltaC in a first basket trial in 5 solid tumor types, as well as a translational component to identify relevant markers of tumor sensitivity to MVdeltaC. Our program also includes, at this stage, the development of an innovative industrial production process for MVdeltaC. Our aim is to master complex production processes to ensure the security and success of the project. This is a key factor in creating value in the vaccine sector. This is why we are in advanced discussions with one of the leaders in pharmaceutical subcontracting (CDMO) to sign a collaboration agreement », explains Jean-François Le Bigot, PhD, CEO of Oncovita.
The MVdeltaC vaccine candidate (MVP-06-01) is based on MeasovirR technology using measles vaccine virus, the world’s most widely used and safest vaccine. This technology has already been successfully used to develop 6 prophylactic vaccines tested in human clinical trials, notably for immunogenicity.
MVdeltaC’s immuno-oncolytic efficacy has already been widely demonstrated in multiple in-vitro and in-vivo tumor models, and its unique mechanism of action has been documented and published in the international scientific literature. Preclinical pharmacological and regulatory safety trials on MVdeltaC are currently being finalized.
The promising results of MVdeltaC were presented at the International Society for Vaccines (ISV) Congress held from October 22 to 24, 2023 in Lausanne, Switzerland.