Vaccinex
Vaccinex develops novel therapeutic antibodies for cancer and neurologic diseases, with its lead drug candidate, pepinemab, targeting Semaphorin 4D (SEMA4D).
Company Overview
Vaccinex develops novel therapeutic antibodies aimed at treating cancer and neurological diseases. The company's lead drug candidate, pepinemab, targets Semaphorin 4D (SEMA4D) to potentially treat conditions such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Vaccinex uses its proprietary drug discovery platform, ActivMAb®, for both pipeline expansion and strategic collaborations.
Lead Drug Candidate: Pepinemab
Pepinemab is Vaccinex's lead drug candidate, designed to target Semaphorin 4D (SEMA4D). This targeted therapy is under investigation in various clinical trials for its potential effectiveness in treating multiple conditions, including Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and various forms of cancer. The promise of pepinemab has drawn significant interest and funding, such as grants from the Alzheimer's Association and the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation.
Proprietary Platform: ActivMAb®
Vaccinex utilizes its proprietary technology platform, ActivMAb®, which focuses on the selection of antibodies against complex membrane proteins. This includes multi-pass membrane proteins like GPCRs and ion channels. ActivMAb® aids in enhancing Vaccinex's drug discovery processes and supports strategic collaborations with other biotech firms.
Clinical Trials and Research
Vaccinex is actively conducting clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of pepinemab in various medical conditions, including Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and various cancers. Additionally, the company collaborates with Merck to clinically evaluate pepinemab in combination with pembrolizumab for treating recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
Strategic Collaborations and Funding
Vaccinex has secured financial support and collaboration opportunities to further its research. Notably, the company received a $750,000 grant from the Alzheimer’s Association and up to approximately $3 million from the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. Collaborations include working alongside Merck to explore the combination of pepinemab with pembrolizumab for specific cancer treatments.