Immunocore
{{Short description|Biotechnology company}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Immunocore
| logo = Immunocore logo.svg
| logo_size = 250px
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| type = Public
| traded_as = {{NASDAQ|IMCR}}
| industry = Biotechnology
| founded = {{start date|2008}} in Oxford, England
| founders = Bent Jakobsen and James Noble
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| key_people = Bahija Jallal, CEO; Sir John Bell, Chairman; Brian Di Donato, CFO and Head of Strategy; David Berman, Head of R&D
| products = Cancer drugs/treatments using T-Cell receptor technology
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| website = {{URL|http://www.immunocore.com/}}
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Immunocore is a global commercial-stage biotechnology company,{{Cite web|url=http://www.immunocore.com|title=Transformational Science that Transforms Lives – Immunocore|website=immunocore.com|language=en|access-date=2017-11-10}} based in Oxfordshire, which researches and develops biological drugs using soluble T-cell receptor technology.
History
Immunocore was founded in 2008 as a spinout of MediGene AG, which acquired Avidex in 2006. The core technology was spun out of Oxford University in 1999 by Bent Jakobsen into Avidex Ltd.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/10543183.business-science/|title=The business of science|website=Oxford Mail}}
In July 2015, Immunocore announced the completion of an initial $320 million private financing round, Europe's largest ever financing round by a private life sciences company.{{Cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-immunocore-investment/immunocore-raises-320-million-in-record-financing-round-idUKKCN0PQ0DS20150716|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110171757/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-immunocore-investment/immunocore-raises-320-million-in-record-financing-round-idUKKCN0PQ0DS20150716|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 November 2017|title=Immunocore raises $320 million in record financing round|last=Halpin|first=Padraic|work=U.K.|access-date=2017-11-10|language=en-GB}} Fidelity Management & Research Company, Woodford Investment Management, Malin Corporation, Eli Lilly and Company, and RTW Investments all participated in this fundraise along with other unnamed investors and existing shareholders.{{Cite web|url=https://www.immunocore.com/news/immunocore-announces-fidelitys-participation-in-320m-financing|title=Immunocore announces Fidelity’s Participation in $320M Financing|website=Immunocore}}
In September 2017, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced a $40 million investment in Immunocore to accelerate the development of Immunocore's ImmTAV and ImmTAB therapeutics.{{Cite web|url=https://www.immunocore.com/news/immunocore-and-the-bill-melinda-gates-foundation-collaborate-to-develop-immunotherapies-for-infectious-diseases|title=Immunocore and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Collaborate to Develop Immunotherapies for Infectious Diseases|website=Immunocore}}
In March 2020, Immunocore announced the closing of its $130 million Series B private financing round.{{cite web |last1=Limited |first1=Immunocore |title=Immunocore Secures $130 Million Series B Financing |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/03/02/1993333/0/en/Immunocore-Secures-130-Million-Series-B-Financing.html |website=GlobeNewswire News Room |access-date=20 April 2021 |language=en |date=2 March 2020}} In January 2021, Immunocore announced the closing of its $75 million Series C round.{{Cite web|url=https://www.immunocore.com/news/immunocore-announces-closing-750-million-series-c-round|title=Immunocore announces closing of $75.0 Million Series C round|website=Immunocore}} Immunocore went public in February 2021, with closing announced on 9 February 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.immunocore.com/news/immunocore-announces-closing-3121-million-aggregate-financing-consisting-2971-million-initial-public-offering-full-exercise-opti|title=Immunocore Announces Closing of $312.1 Million Aggregate Financing, Consisting of $297.1 Million Initial Public Offering, Full Exercise of Option to Purchase Additional ADSs and $15.0 Million Concurrent Private Placement|website=Immunocore}}
Scientific background
File:Wiki ImmTAC mechanism of action diseased cell.png
T cell receptors (TCRs) are molecules found on the surface of T lymphocytes (or T cells) and play various roles in the immune system. TCRs are often cited as aiding in recognising foreign antigens being presented by cells which have been infected by viruses or intracellular bacteria. Immunocore has developed a line of biologic medicines by combining engineered, cancer-recognising, soluble TCRs with immune activating complexes that direct the immune system to kill cancer cells. These drugs are commonly referred to as immune-mobilising monoclonal TCRs against cancer (ImmTAC molecules).{{Cite journal|last=Liddy|first=Nathaniel|last2=Bossi|first2=Giovanna|last3=Adams|first3=Katherine J|last4=Lissina|first4=Anna|last5=Mahon|first5=Tara M|last6=Hassan|first6=Namir J|last7=Gavarret|first7=Jessie|last8=Bianchi|first8=Frayne C|last9=Pumphrey|first9=Nicholas J|date=2012-05-06|title=Monoclonal TCR-redirected tumor cell killing|journal=Nature Medicine|language=en|volume=18|issue=6|pages=980–987|doi=10.1038/nm.2764|pmid=22561687|issn=1546-170X}}
Clinical pipeline
===IMCgp100 (Tebentafusp)===
Tebentafusp is a soluble, bi-specific t cell engager. On 23 November 2020, Immunocore announced a Phase 3 data readout for tebentafusp in the field of immuno-oncology.{{Cite web |url=https://ir.immunocore.com/news-releases/news-release-details/immunocores-tebentafusp-demonstrates-superior-overall-survival |title=Immunocore’s tebentafusp demonstrates superior overall survival compared to investigator’s choice in a Phase 3 clinical trial of patients with previously untreated metastatic uveal melanoma |date=23 November 2020 |website=Immunocore}} In Jan 2022 the US FDA approved tebentafusp-tebn for HLA-A*02:01-positive adult patients with unresectable or metastatic uveal melanoma.[https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-tebentafusp-tebn-unresectable-or-metastatic-uveal-melanoma FDA approves tebentafusp-tebn for unresectable or metastatic uveal melanoma Jan 2022]
===Other Pipeline Programs===
Immunocore's other pipeline programs include IMC-C103C, an ImmTAC candidate in Phase 1 partnered with Genentech for the treatment of solid tumors expressing MAGE-A4, and IMC-F106C, an ImmTAC candidate which is also in Phase 1 studies for solid tumors expressing PRAME. Earlier programs include candidates for the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Corporate governance
Sir John Bell serves as Immunocore's chairman of the board. Bahija Jallal is chief executive officer and director of the board.{{Cite web|url=https://www.immunocore.com/about-us/board-directors|title=Board of Directors|website=Immunocore}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|1=http://www.immunocore.com/}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Immunomodulating drugs
Category:Biotechnology companies of the United Kingdom
Category:Pharmaceutical companies established in 2008