Lever Bio, a biotech start-up active in the immuno-oncology field, reports that it has closed a EUR 4 million funding round led by Claris Ventures and the signing of a strategic partnership with VIB, a Belgian life sciences research institute. The agreement gives Lever Bio access to VIB’s intellectual property to develop four new therapies based on single domain antibodies (VHH antibodies). The collaboration involves Massimiliano Mazzone, an international expert in the field of tumour immunology and immuno-metabolism, together with his team at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology.
Although immune checkpoint inhibitors have transformed the approach to cancer treatment, up to 70% of patients with solid tumours do not respond to treatment or develop resistance, making it urgent to explore new strategies capable of overcoming immune evasion mechanisms.
Mazzone’s work (pictured) has made a crucial contribution to understanding the role of metabolic pathways in modulating the immune response in the tumour microenvironment, opening up new therapeutic perspectives. His research revealed interactions between tumour cells, immune and metabolic processes, suggesting innovative ways to reprogramme the immune response against the tumour.
The collaboration will focus on the development of four new antibodies, capable of targeting relevant metabolic and immunological pathways within the tumour microenvironment.
Through this agreement, Lever Bio will contribute to the development of therapeutic candidates, validating their clinical potential in solid tumours and confirming its commitment to innovation in the field of immuno-metabolism.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Mazzone and the innovation and business team at VIB,” says Chiara Donini, project manager at Lever Bio, in a note. “His research work represents a solid scientific basis for our immuno-oncology programmes. Our goal is to translate these results into new treatment opportunities for cancer patients’.
“At VIB, we are strongly committed to turning scientific discoveries into high-impact therapeutic solutions,” adds Jérôme Van Biervliet, CEO of VIB. “Lever Bio’s approach to immuno-metabolism is perfectly in line with our mission, particularly to address cancers resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors. We are happy to see these programmes advancing into the clinic.”
This agreement represents a significant milestone in Lever Bio’s mission: to develop next-generation immuno-oncology therapies that harness the interactions between metabolism and the immune system to improve the efficacy of cancer treatments.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ©