Friday, July 28, 2023
Immuno Cure BioTech (“Immuno Cure”), a biotechnology group based in the Hong Kong Science Park, is pleased to announce today that it has closed the US$12 million tranche in the US$27 million Series A fundraising round. Led by the AEF Greater Bay Area Fund that Gobi Partners GBA (“Gobi GBA”) manages, this round will be used to accelerate the development of DNA vaccines and antibodies, as well as to prepare for an initial public offering (“IPO”) in Hong Kong.
Immuno Cure focuses on research and development of immunotherapies for cancers, inflammatory and infectious diseases based on its patented “PD-1-enhanced DNA Vaccine Platform” and “Anti- Δ42PD1 Antibody Platform” with two DNA vaccine candidates, ICVAX and ICCOV, currently in clinical trials.
Dr Xia JIN, CEO of Immuno Cure, said, “This funding round is a landmark in Immuno Cure’s business expansion. We are honored to receive strong support from the AEF Greater Bay Area Fund, which affirms the recognition of our scientific merits and R&D achievements. Immuno Cure will continue to be at the frontier of DNA medicines, antibodies and innovative immunotherapies, conducting R&D on novel and effective vaccine technologies to enhance our arsenal against cancers and infectious diseases.”
Mr Chibo Tang, Managing Partner of Gobi Partners GBA, shared, "Infectious diseases are a universal issue that has threatened global public health for many years and has further been highlighted by COVID-19. We believe that Immuno Cure’s technologies have innovative applications of immunotherapies for not only infectious diseases but also cancers and other ailments down the line, and have the potential to truly change the world.”
ICVAX, a therapeutic DNA vaccine candidate against HIV/AIDS, was developed with an aim to induce broadly reactive polyfunctional viral-specific T cells to achieve functional cure in HIV/AIDS. The Phase I clinical trial of ICVAX, which is underway in Shenzhen, is designed as a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of ICVAX in a total of 45 stable HIV/AIDS patient volunteers under antiretroviral therapy.
ICCOV, a preventive COVID-19 DNA vaccine candidate, has entered the Phase IIa clinical trial in Hong Kong, which is designed as an open-label study to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of ICCOV as a booster vaccine in a total of 60 healthy adult volunteers between 18 and 75 years of age.
Furthermore, Immuno Cure has made significant achievements on the Anti-Δ42PD1 Antibody platform, which utilises antibodies targeting Δ42PD1, a recently discovered isoformic programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), for the restoration of function of killer T cells, a type of immune cells essential for killing cancer cells, for the treatment of cancers such as liver cancer and colorectal cancer.
About Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has for over 20 years committed to building up Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology hub to propel success for local and global pioneers today and tomorrow. HKSTP has established a thriving I&T ecosystem that supported over 10 unicorns and Hong Kong’s leading R&D hub with over 13,000 research professionals and over 1,300 technology companies focused on healthtech, AI and robotics, fintech and smart city technologies.
Established in 2001, we attract and nurture talent, accelerate and commercialise innovation and technology for entrepreneurs on their journey of growth in Hong Kong, to the Greater Bay Area, Asia and beyond. Our growing innovation ecosystem is built around our key locations of Hong Kong Science Park in Shatin, InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong and three modern InnoParks in Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long. The three InnoParks are realising a vision of new industrialisation for Hong Kong. The goal is sectors like advanced manufacturing, electronics and biotechnology are being reimagined for a new generation of industry.
Through our infrastructure, services, expertise and network of partnerships, HKSTP will help establish innovation and technology as a pillar of growth for Hong Kong, while reinforcing Hong Kong’s international I&T hub status as a launchpad for global growth at the heart of the GBA innovation powerhouse.
More information about HKSTP is available at www.hkstp.org.
About Immuno Cure
Immuno Cure is a clinical stage biotechnology group based in the Hong Kong Science Park, focusing on research and development of immunotherapies for cancers, inflammatory and infectious diseases based on its patented PD-1-enhanced DNA vaccine and Anti-Δ42PD1 Antibody platforms; with two DNA vaccine candidates currently in clinical trials.
Official Website: www.immunocure.hk
About Gobi GBA
Gobi Partners GBA (Gobi GBA) was established in 2016 as a part of the leading Pan-Asian venture
Entrepreneurs Fund (AEF) as well as the AEF Greater Bay Area Fund (AEF GBA Fund), and has formed strategic partnerships with other renowned financial institutions such as HSBC and Hang Seng Bank.
As of 2023, Gobi GBA has invested in over 70 start-ups across the Greater Bay Area, and has fostered the growth of 7 unicorns including Airwallex, Amber, Animoca Brands, GoGoX, Prenetics, and more.
Official Website: https://gobi.vc
Official Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gobi-partners-gba
Media Contact:
Immuno Cure
Ms Carol Chung
Email: [email protected]
Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
Ms Claire Ma
Tel: +852 2629 7032
Email: [email protected]
Immuno Cure
Dr Anthony Cheung
Email: anthonycheung@immunocur
Edelman Public Relations
Ms Vicky Lo
Tel: +852 2837 4786 / 9886 0423
Email: [email protected]/
[email protected]
