Inc. Argos Therapeutics A biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and marketing fully personalized immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases using its ArcelisTM technology platform, today announced that it has secured $42. Series E funding of 5 million The funds will be used for the ongoing, fully-resourced ADAPT pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of AGS-003 for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC)
The financing was under the leadership of Pharmstandard International S A: A (Luxembourg), a holding company, wholly owned by the #1 pharmaceutical company in Russia, OJSC Pharmstandard (LSE: PHST) Strategic investment is the company’s first investment in the U Oh, S Biopharmaceuticals The financing round also included a new strategic investor, Green Cross Corporation of Seoul, Korea (006280:Korean Stock Exchange), as well as existing investors, including Forbion Capital, TVM Capital, Lumira Capital, Intersouth Partners, Caisse de depot et placement de Québec, Morningside Group and Aurora Funds.
Alexandr Shuster, President of Inbio Ventures-a management company represented by Pharmstandard International S. A: A In facilitating this investment round, ‘Pharmstandard’s investment in Argos is a key component of the globalization of Pharmstandard operations and focuses on the identification of innovative cell-based therapies. Immunotherapy is increasingly recognized as a treatment that will represent a new paradigm in cancer management. Pharmstandard was impressed by the science, management team and progress of Argos’ clinical trials in both cancer and HIV. ”
Jeff Abbey, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “This international round of capital reflects the globalization of immunotherapy and the growing interest in innovative and personalized cancer treatments. The participation of these major pharmaceutical players demonstrates the value of our Arcelis technology platform and the traction that we are achieving in our pivotal phase 3 global trial in the MRCC as well as in the clinical development of our HIV immunotherapy. ”
About the International Pharmstandard S A: A
International PharmStandard S A: A -A holding company fully committed to OJSC Pharmstandard (LSE: PHST)-aims to make venture investments in pharmaceutical companies based in North America and Europe with a strategic focus on innovative drugs with a strong potential to meet yet unmet medical needs in Russia and CIS countries. Inbio Ventures is a management company providing professional support for drug development activities in Russia and abroad.
About the Technology Platform ArcelisTM
Arcelis is a fully customized, active immunotherapy technology that captures all antigens, including mutated and variant antigens that are specific to each patient’s disease. Immunosuppression has been proven to be overcome by producing a durable T-cell memory response without adjuvants associated with toxicity. Technology can be used to produce personalized therapies for any cancer or infectious disease
The Arcelis process integrates easily into many current treatment paradigms, using only a small tumor or blood sample and the patient’s own dendritic cells, which are derived and optimized by a single leukapheresis procedure. The proprietary process uses RNA isolated from the patient sample to program dendritic cells to target the entire disease antigen repertoire. The activated, antigen-charged dendritic cells are then formulated into the plasma of the patient and given as an intradermal injection to produce the desired patient-specific immune response.
Arcelis technology also overcomes many of the manufacturing and marketing challenges that hindered other personalized cancer immunotherapy treatments. Automated processes enable a single facility to serve all of North America and can be used to treat any cancer or infectious disease with the same manufacturing process and equipment.
Argos Therapeutics
Argos Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of fully personalized immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases using its ArcelisTM technology platform. The most advanced product candidate of Argos, AGS-003, has launched a pivotal phase 3 study for the treatment of mRCC, and the company plans to have data from its phase 2b study of AGS-004 for the treatment of HIV in the first half of 2014. For more information on Argos Therapeutics, please visit
