Lyon-based Brenus Pharma, a biotech startup specialising in the development of cancer vaccines, has secured €22.2 million in Series A financing. The round was led by Angelor, an investment fund bringing together a cluster of investors from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (AURA) region, including UI Investissement for the Fonds régional Avenir industrie Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Crédit Agricole Centre-France and Crédit Agricole Centre-Est, with 2 family offices. Belgian funds Noshaq, which backed CryoTherapeutics, Myocene, and Get Your Way, and Investsud also contributed to this round.
Together, they join co-founder and lead investor Jacques Gardette (BIOJAG) and long-time investor Stéphane Legastelois (33 CALIFORNIE). In addition, Brenus Pharma has received non-dilutive funding from the French government and Bpifrance, which backed Gamestream and Calyxia.
Funds utilisation
The proceeds will be used to fully fund the first Phase I/IIA clinical trial of Brenus’ first candidate, STC-1010, in metastatic colorectal cancer, and the development of a second candidate in another solid tumour indication (STC-1020).
Marie CHAMBODUT, Partner, and Investment Director at Angelor added: “We are proud to lead this strategic transaction for Brenus Pharma to support the clinical development of their cancer vaccines, including STC-1010, the first and most advanced program to emerge from the platform. We look forward to joining Paul and his exceptional team in transforming Brenus into a global player in precision immuno-oncology, bringing solutions to millions of patients experiencing treatment failure, and contributing to the development of the French biotherapeutics industry.”
Hélène SABATEL, Investment Manager at Noshaq, said: “Together with our colleagues at InvestSud, we are delighted to support the Brenus Pharma team in the development of this cutting-edge technological platform, as we are convinced of its future impact for patients currently without concrete therapeutic solutions. We are also enthusiastic about the prospect of welcoming a Brenus R&D branch to the Liège region soon, and we hope that this new Franco-Belgian collaboration between two biotech ecosystems will provide the company with optimal support for its development.”
Develops first-line cancer vaccines
Cancer is an evolving target that constantly adapts to escape the immune system. It remains one of the most difficult diseases to treat. Every year, 19 million new patients are diagnosed worldwide, and the associated mortality is estimated at 10 million.
Founded by Jacques Gardette, Brenus Pharma will meet this high unmet need thanks to its innovation from the end of 2024 with its first clinical trial in France, Belgium, and the USA.
The technology developed by Brenus Pharma not only treats the immediate threat but also defends the immune system against tumors that may appear later, thereby reducing the risk of relapse. To achieve this, STC reproduces in the laboratory the resistance and escape mechanisms of tumor cells, to educate the patient’s immune system to detect and destroy them, thanks to the widest panel of therapeutic targets currently available (over 200 tumor antigens).
STC-1010 is the first vaccine candidate based on the STC ‘Stimulated-Tumor-(ghost)-Cells’ technology platform developed by Brenus Pharma. Adaptive and innovative, this platform uses an in-depth understanding of the complexity of cancer to offer a new type of precision treatment, enabling the company to give patients’ immune systems a head-start by anticipating the progression of their disease. At the same time, STC-1010 will be extended to other types of gastric tumours, such as those of the pancreas and liver.
Jacques GARDETTE, co-founder of Brenus Pharma, commented: “Brenus Pharma has taken a major step forward. The arrival of investment professionals in our young company confirms the interest we are arousing. After the creation and sale of Biocorp to Novo Nordisk in 2023, Brenus Pharma now has our full attention to help the company achieve its ambitious goals. I’m convinced that the constant commitment and innovation of the Brenus team have built a solid foundation for tackling one of the world’s most complex therapeutic challenges. During its rapid development, Brenus has demonstrated boldness, achievement, and resilience in the biotech field.”
Paul BRAVETTI, Chief Executive Officer of Brenus Pharma, added: “We are delighted to welcome top-tier investors who have been part of recent French success stories (Mablink, Amolyt Pharma). This is an important milestone for Brenus Pharma, confirming the potential of the STC platform, and of STC-1010, which has already demonstrated solid proof of efficacy in various preclinical models. I would like to thank all our team for their motivation and their passionate work to rapidly bring a new therapeutic solution to patients. Our shared ambition is to position our platform at the forefront of the national and international scene, and to become a leader in next-generation cancer immunotherapies.”
