Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Neovacs' business ?
- What products is Neovacs developing ?
- What stage of development have Neovacs products reached ?
- What is Neovacs' platform technology ?
- What diseases is Neovacs working on ?
- What is Neovacs' development strategy ?
- Who founded Neovacs ?
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- What is Neovacs' business ?
Néovacs vision is to become a major player in the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, as well as certain cancers. The Company is a leader and pioneer in developing active immunotherapies to human cytokines, based on its novel Kinoid immunotherapy platform.
Kinoids are immunogenic compounds based upon an inactivated cytokine. Administration of a Kinoid prompts the production of neutralizing polyclonal antibodies that target abnormal cytokine production in diseased tissue.
Cytokines are proteins that mediate inter-cellular communication. In the event that a cytokine is overproduced, this can cause or exacerbate the development of disease conditions, including autoimmunity, inflammation and certain cancers.
Neovacs has selected three cytokines to work on, TNF, IFNa and VEGF, and has developed a Kinoid to each, the TNF-Kinoid, the IFNa-Kinoid and the VEGF-Kinoid respectively.
The Kinoids target indications that represent very large potential markets, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, lupus, psoriasis, age-related macular degeneration and certain cancers.
Neovacs has now achieved initial “proof of concept” with its most advanced product candidate, the TNF-Kinoid. In a Phase 1/2 study in patients with Crohn’s Disease, the Kinoid has been well tolerated, generated a clinical response in 76% of patients at week 12 and an encouraging clinical remission in 43% of the patients. With these data in hand, Neovacs has received approval in several European countries to study the product in a Phase 2 clinical trial in rheumatoid arthritis and in Crohn’s disease.
- What products is Neovacs developing ?
TNFα – Kinoid : http://www.neovacs.com/en/products/TNF-Kinoide
IFNα – Kinoid : http://www.neovacs.com/en/products/IFNa-Kinoide
VEGF - Kinoid : http://www.neovacs.com/en/products/VEGF-Kinoide
- What stage of development have Neovacs products reached ?
For more information follow this link : http://www.neovacs.com/en/products
- What is Neovacs' platform technology ?
For more information follow this link : http://www.neovacs.com/en/technology
- What diseases is Neovacs working on ?
Neovacs’ Kinoids target indications that represent very large potential markets, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, lupus, psoriasis, age-related macular degeneration and certain cancers.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory disease in which the immune system progressively attacks and destroys joint tissues, with a major negative effect on a patient’s dexterity and mobility.
Crohn’s Disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that can affect any part of the digestive tract but is most common in the colon, ileum and anus. The cause of Crohn’s Disease is unknown. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, anal or peri-anal fissures, abscesses or fistulas and abdominal swelling. Systemic symptoms include fever, weight loss and general malaise.
Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease characterized by a loss of immune tolerance, in particular by the B lymphocytes that produce antibodies. Lupus is a multi-organ disease that can cause severe kidney damage leading to kidney failure, as well as damage to the nervous system, the cardio-vascular system and the patient’s joints.
Age-related macular degeneration is a chronic degenerative condition affecting the retina that typically affects those over 50 years old. It is the leading cause of vision loss in industrialized countries.
- What is Neovacs' development strategy ?
Neovacs strategy is to develop drug candidates based on its patented Kinoid technology, with a focus on inflammatory diseases. In the midterm, the Company intends to forge partnerships with players in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry with the financial capacity and the expertise to manage late stage clinical trials as well as the requisite regulatory and sales and marketing resources.
In 2011, Néovacs’objective is to confirm the proof of concept of the Kinoid technology with its two most advanced product candidates, the TNF-Kinoid and the IFNα-Kinoid, by completing the three on going clinical trials.
- Who founded Neovacs ?
Néovacs is a spin-out of the Pierre and Marie Curie University located in Paris, and was founded by Professor Daniel Zagury, an eminent French immunologist.