Osivax was recently created as a spin-off of Imaxio (Lyon, France)
and has just finalized a EUR 2.7 million seed funding round
Lyon, France – June 15th, 2017 – Osivax, a clinical-stage biotech start’up focused on vaccines and based in Lyon (France), announces today the closing of a seed funding round of EUR 2.7 million.
Osivax was recently created as a spin-off of the R&D department of Imaxio, a biotech company also based in Lyon. The objectives of the spin-off are to enable Osivax to focus on the development of the R&D platform and Imaxio to accelerate the commercial development of its leptospirosis vaccine commercialized currently in France and soon internationally.
Osivax develops a clinical-stage pipeline of vaccines and immunotherapies based on the oligoDOM® technology. oligoDOM® is a pro-immunogenic antigen reengineering technology which has been developed over the last 15 years by Imaxio. It is protected by a portfolio of 4 patent families, now owned by Osivax.
Osivax pipeline is composed of a malaria vaccine candidate currently in phase I clinical trial, an influenza vaccine candidate expected to enter in phase I in early 2018, and other vaccine & immunotherapy candidates in research stage.
The EUR 2.7 million funds raised by Osivax will enable it to accelerate the clinical development of its influenza vaccine candidate and start a phase I trial in early 2018.
Osivax was recently founded by Mr. Alexandre Le Vert (CEO), Dr. Florence Nicolas (Development Director) and Dr. Fergal Hill (Chief Scientific Officer). Before founding Osivax, the three founders were working at IMAXIO, where Dr Fergal Hill was the inventor of the oligoDOM® technology now owned by Osivax.
Pradeyrol Développement, a French family office based in Paris and Imaxio’s majority shareholder, has participated in the fundraising. Other terms of the fundraising are not disclosed.
“This fundraising is a key milestone for the development of our oligoDOM®- based vaccine pipeline,” said Alexandre Le Vert, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Osivax. “These funds will help us accelerate the clinical development of our influenza candidate with a phase I clinical trial expected to start in early 2018.”
“The creation of Osivax and this fundraising are relevant enablers to accelerate the 15 years research performed within Imaxio,” added Dr. Christian Pradeyrol, Chairman of Imaxio’s Board and an investor in Osivax. “Osivax has got the right team, the right focus and the right funding to accelerate the development of the oligoDOM®-based pipeline, starting with the Influenza candidate which should enter the clinic in early 2018.”
About Imaxio:
Imaxio is a small commercial stage biotech company specialized in immunology, which commercializes a human vaccine against an occupational disease caused by leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae. In 2016, its revenue was 2.3M€. For further information : www.imaxio.com
About Osivax
Osivax’s mission is to revolutionize influenza prevention with a universal flu vaccine for both current and future Influenza A and B infections by leveraging its unique oligoDOM® technology platform. The most advanced candidate, a broad-spectrum A-strain flu vaccine is in Phase 1 clinical development. Osivax is focused on providing proof-of-concept in Influenza A firstly to save lives and secondly to lay the groundwork for a universal flu vaccine as well as apply the platform to other infectious and immune system-associated diseases. For further information: www.osivax.com
Osivax was recently created as a spin-off of the R&D department of Imaxio, a biotech company also based in Lyon. The objectives of the spin-off are to enable Osivax to focus on the development of the R&D platform and Imaxio to accelerate the commercial development of its leptospirosis vaccine commercialized currently in France and soon internationally.
Osivax develops a clinical-stage pipeline of vaccines and immunotherapies based on the oligoDOM® technology. oligoDOM® is a pro-immunogenic antigen reengineering technology which has been developed over the last 15 years by Imaxio. It is protected by a portfolio of 4 patent families, now owned by Osivax.
Osivax pipeline is composed of a malaria vaccine candidate currently in phase I clinical trial, an influenza vaccine candidate expected to enter in phase I in early 2018, and other vaccine & immunotherapy candidates in research stage.
The EUR 2.7 million funds raised by Osivax will enable it to accelerate the clinical development of its influenza vaccine candidate and start a phase I trial in early 2018.
Osivax was recently founded by Mr. Alexandre Le Vert (CEO), Dr. Florence Nicolas (Development Director) and Dr. Fergal Hill (Chief Scientific Officer). Before founding Osivax, the three founders were working at IMAXIO, where Dr Fergal Hill was the inventor of the oligoDOM® technology now owned by Osivax.
Pradeyrol Développement, a French family office based in Paris and Imaxio’s majority shareholder, has participated in the fundraising. Other terms of the fundraising are not disclosed.
“This fundraising is a key milestone for the development of our oligoDOM®- based vaccine pipeline,” said Alexandre Le Vert, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Osivax. “These funds will help us accelerate the clinical development of our influenza candidate with a phase I clinical trial expected to start in early 2018.”
“The creation of Osivax and this fundraising are relevant enablers to accelerate the 15 years research performed within Imaxio,” added Dr. Christian Pradeyrol, Chairman of Imaxio’s Board and an investor in Osivax. “Osivax has got the right team, the right focus and the right funding to accelerate the development of the oligoDOM®-based pipeline, starting with the Influenza candidate which should enter the clinic in early 2018.”
About Imaxio:
Imaxio is a small commercial stage biotech company specialized in immunology, which commercializes a human vaccine against an occupational disease caused by leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae. In 2016, its revenue was 2.3M€. For further information : www.imaxio.com
About Osivax
Osivax’s mission is to revolutionize influenza prevention with a universal flu vaccine for both current and future Influenza A and B infections by leveraging its unique oligoDOM® technology platform. The most advanced candidate, a broad-spectrum A-strain flu vaccine is in Phase 1 clinical development. Osivax is focused on providing proof-of-concept in Influenza A firstly to save lives and secondly to lay the groundwork for a universal flu vaccine as well as apply the platform to other infectious and immune system-associated diseases. For further information: www.osivax.com