Biosceptre today announced the securing of £7m. (US$9.6m.) in funds to boost development of its nfP2X7-targeted CAR T program – a new generation of therapy with the potential to treat a broad range of haematologic and solid tumour malignancies.
The funding, drawn from Norcliffe Capital in Europe and Jungle Capital in Australia, will help Biosceptre push it’s unique lead program towards clinical trials.
“We are really pleased by this fund raise as it reaffirms confidence in our ground-breaking nfP2X7-targeted therapies, and the drastic difference they could make to the lives of thousands of cancer patients, world-wide,” explained said Mr Gavin Currie, CEO of Biosceptre.
“The funding will help propel our CAR T program through the optimisation and preclinical stage, towards manufacturing and potential first in-human studies.”
“In parallel with our CAR T program we will further the development of our monoclonal antibody therapeutic program too.”
nfP2X7 is a tumour-specific target, discovered by Biosceptre, that’s found on a wide range of cancers, both haematological and solid. Studies have shown that it retains critical signalling capabilities that support cancer cell survival and possesses novel epitopes that are available for antibody binding. Importantly, these aren’t detected at the surface of functional P2X7. Targeting cancer cells via these nfP2X7 epitopes offers great specificity – and forms the basis of Biosceptre’s technology.
Driven by Nobel prize-winning science leadership, Biosceptre’s innovative research and therapeutics are supported by ongoing collaborations with global experts and major research institutes, such as The University of Sydney, Universiy of Technology, Sydney and The Children’s Medical Research Institute.