CanImGuide has developed the proprietary drug P28R,
First, this molecule inhibits the activity of an immunosuppressor produced in malignant tumours, and second, it has a direct immunostimulatory activity.
The Team
Carl-Magnus Högerkorp MSc, PhD, Executive MBA, has more than 20 years of experience in R&D from academia, big pharma and small life science innovation companies. Previous roles as CEO of Edvince AB, CSO at Xintela AB and research positions at Novo Nordisk and the National Institutes of Health, USA. Carl-Magnus has a comprehensive understanding of the whole drug development value chain in areas of oncology, Read more
Carl-Magnus Högerkorp
CEO
Founder of CanImGuide Therapeutics based on his own innovations. Focused on managing the scientific agenda, the IP strategy and plan and scientific communication around this project. Dr Håkansson’s research include immune parameters of importance for response, monitoring and optimization of immunotherapy and biochemotherapy in various types of cancer. Read more
Leif Håkansson
CSO
Nils Siegbahn PhD, MBA, has vast experience from executive functions in pharma and medtech industry, such as KabiPharmacia Group, Perstorp AB, Atos Medical AB, Pernovo AB, Alligator Bioscience AB and Niconovum AB. He is currently engaged as board member in Sparbankstiftelsen I Syd Riskkapitalstiftelse and Celltrix AB, and previously as chairman of the board in Glycorex Transplantaion AB, Prosthetic Foot Co. . Read more
Nils Siegbahn
Chairman of the Board
Internationally recognized physician in oncology, cancer researcher. Dr. Khleif currently serves as Head of the state of Georgia Cancer Center, the GRU Cancer Center and the Cancer Service Line at Georgia Regents University. Read more
Samir Khleif
Scientific Advisory Board
The CanImGuide story
Founded in 2006
CanImGuide Therapeutics AB (CanImGuide) was founded in 2006 in order to further develop new treatments for primarily cancer, based on research carried out by a team led by Professor Leif Håkansson at the University of Linköping, Sweden.
Their research clearly indicated the possibility to predict the therapeutic outcome of immunotherapy based on either intra-tumoural or systemic immune status and it was also shown that the systemic immune status could be used to develop prognostic tests of significant value for cancer patients.
2008 Thinking Bigger
In parallell, fundamental cancer related immunoregulatory mechanisms were investigated, which resulted in the detection of several new therapeutic targets in cancer as well as inflammatory diseases.
Based on these observations the potential role of suppressive peptide sequences in cancer immunosuppression was further explored and the potent, suppressive peptide P3028 was discovered. Peptide 3028 has a dual mechanism of action, binding to two receptors of fundamental importance for the function of immune cells with the potential to suppress several steps in initiation and up-regulation of an immune response.
In parallell, fundamental cancer related immunoregulatory mechanisms were investigated, which resulted in the detection of several new therapeutic targets in cancer as well as inflammatory diseases.
Based on these observations the potential role of suppressive peptide sequences in cancer immunosuppression was further explored and the potent, suppressive peptide P3028 was discovered. Peptide 3028 has a dual mechanism of action, binding to two receptors of fundamental importance for the function of immune cells with the potential to suppress several steps in initiation and up-regulation of an immune response.
2011 Moving Faster
Antibodies to the suppressive peptide 3028 were developed and these antibodies were, in a human ex vivo model, shown to efficiently overcome this type of immunosuppression. A low molecular weight substance directed against this structure comprises a lead drug candidate for treatment of immunosuppression in cancer patients. This therapeutic strategy will enhance immune mediated anti-cancer reactivity and enhance the efficacy of immunostimulatory treatment using interferons, interleukins and vaccination.
2013 The discovery of a new class of immune-regulatory substances
In 2013 CanImGuide developed the peptide P28R which targets the P3028-structure and inactivates it.
2015 Fundamental therapeutic breakthrough
In vivo studies performed in 2015 demonstrating that P28R executes its anti-cancer effects also following subcutaneous administration (into healthy tissues), achieving systemic treatment effects. This was a fundamental therapeutic breakthrough in the development of P28R.
Toxicological studies conducted without any significant side effects.
2018 First in-human clinical trials
Based on the results achieved to date, the company is next planning to initiate its first-in-human clinical trial in patients. This will be a limited size study in patients with head-and-neck cancer. The clinical trial protocol is under review by the Swedish Medical Products Agency and the Ethical Committee and is expected to be ready to be initiated during 2018.
2019-2020 Preparing Phase I/II studies
CanImguide will carry out several Non-Clinical development activities which aim to prepare for the clinical development programs and a Phase I/II study. These activities includes a Regulatory Toxicological study, experimental invivo tumour studies, three clinical trials in dog, and a clinical Phase 0 First-In-Human study. All these activities will provide indispensable guidance for the more advanced Phase I/II studies planned to start in 2020.