Hookipa Pharma Secures $37.4M Series D Financing to Advance Cancer Immunotherapies Using Proprietary Arenavirus Platform

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) has learned that biotechnology company Hookipa Pharma recently completed a $37.4 million Series D financing round to develop immunotherapies for infectious diseases and cancer based on its proprietary arenavirus vector platform.

Hookipa Pharma is a biotechnology company headquartered in Vienna, Austria, dedicated to the development of active immunotherapies for infectious diseases and oncology.

This funding round was led by Redmile Group, with participation from Invus and Samsara BioCapital. The proceeds are slated to support Phase II clinical trials of HB-101, a preventive cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine candidate, as well as the development of HB-202, a therapeutic agent for human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated head and neck cancers.

It is reported that there are approximately 645,000 new cases of head and neck cancer worldwide each year. In most countries, head and neck tumors are more common in men than in women, with the highest incidence occurring in individuals over the age of 50. Head and neck tumors are closely associated with smoking and heavy alcohol consumption; countries with high levels of tobacco and alcohol use also exhibit higher incidence rates. In the United States, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck has become the eighth most common cancer affecting men. Although chemotherapy and certain medications can help control the disease, advanced, recurrent, or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) remains life-threatening for patients.

Hookipa Pharma reprograms the human immune system through its proprietary arenavirus-based delivery platform, providing safe and effective specific protein “antigens” to establish natural defense mechanisms against pathogens, thereby overcoming cancer and infectious diseases. Currently, the company has entered into a collaboration and licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences to jointly develop therapies for HIV and hepatitis B infections. In the future, Hookipa Pharma plans to leverage its arenavirus vector platform to develop additional novel immuno-oncology drugs.

Joern Aldag, CEO of Hookipa Pharma, stated, “This round of financing accelerates the pace of our technological innovation and clinical development. We will continue to refine our immune system reprogramming technology to drive a major transformation in traditional cancer therapies in the future.”

Redmile Group is a venture capital firm headquartered in California, United States, with an active presence in the healthcare sector. To date, the firm has provided funding to 64 healthcare companies.

Invus is a venture capital firm headquartered in New York, USA, specializing in financial advisory, investment services, and consulting services. The firm manages over $4 billion in assets and maintains offices in London, Paris, and Hong Kong.

Samsara BioCapital is a venture capital firm headquartered in California, United States, founded in 2017.

(Compiled by: Feng Yutong)