Lyon-based biotech firm, which has secured €17 million in funding, develops next-generation cancer vaccines and T cell therapies targeting hard-to-treat cold tumors using HERV-derived antigens, as Vestbee was informed.
- Founded in 2019 by Stéphane Depil, ErVimmune develops next-generation cancer vaccines and T cell-based therapies targeting non-conventional tumor antigens. The company focuses on cold tumors, which are cancers that respond poorly to current immunotherapies, such as triple-negative breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
- ErVimmune’s approach centers on human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-derived antigens, which are protein fragments expressed by tumors and recognized as foreign by the immune system. Using a proprietary AI-driven target discovery platform, the company identifies shared tumor epitopes across patients and indications, which are then validated through proteomics and immunology assays.
- This pipeline enables ErVimmune to design therapies that elicit targeted immune responses without relying on patient-specific mutations, allowing for off-the-shelf cancer vaccines and T cell therapies.
Details of the deal
- The Series A round was supported by existing investor Seventure Partners, new investor SPRIM Global Investments, and will leverage non-dilutive funding from Bpifrance and the France 2030 program.
- ErVimmune will use the €17 million funding to advance its lead cancer vaccine candidate, ErVac01, into first-in-human clinical trials, focusing on safety and immune response, and to develop future vaccines targeting new HERV-derived tumor antigens.
“This funding marks a critical milestone in bringing our off-the-shelf cancer vaccine to the clinic. Our approach has the potential to transform treatment options for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers," claims Prof. Stéphane Depil, MD, PhD, founder and board member at ErVimmune.
