Immunocore nabs US$40m from Gates Foundation

Under the agreement, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will invest up to $40m in Immunocore to support development of Immunocore’s small protein molecules ImmTAV (a T cell receptor directed against an immunodominant HIV epitope, and its escape variants, fused to an anti-CD3 scFv domain) and ImmTAB (TCR against immunodominant bacterial target, fused to an anti-CD3 scFv domain) therapeutics for the treatment of tuberculosis (1.8 million deaths annually) and human immunodeficiency virus (1 million deaths annually). According to Immunocore, the TCR-based therapeutics have the potential to reduce treatment timelines and improve patient outcomes. 

The collaboration is part of a larger initiative within Immunocore to apply its soluble TCR-based therapeutics to areas outside of oncology, including infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases. Preclinical data have demonstrated the potential of Immunocore’s ImmTAV molecules to redirect the immune system to kill HIV-infected cells from patients treated with antiretroviral therapy, thus facilitating clearance of reactivated latently infected HIV reservoir cells.

“We believe the immune system harbours the capacity to resolve problematic infectious diseases and our TCR based therapies are well placed to mobilise this process“ said Namir Hassan, Vice President of the Infectious Disease Unit at Immunocore. Consilium Strategic Communications

Immuncore ’s soluble TCR technology platform is based on synthetic, soluble T cell receptors (TCRs) that naturally recognise cells containing disease specific targets and selectively kill them. According the Immunocore, the platform technology can address both extra and intracellular disease targets.

Across the oncology pipeline, Immunocore has collaborations with Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, MedImmune, the biologics division of AstraZeneca, and a co-discovery and co-development partnership with Lilly across a range of solid tumours.