Infinitopes

An Oxford biotech developing ready-made cancer vaccines for solid tumours, now testing its first vaccine in patients.

About Infinitopes

Infinitopes is a clinical-stage biotech that builds cancer vaccines for solid tumours. Its platform finds the markers that cancer cells naturally display and uses engineered viral vectors to teach the immune system to spot them. Its lead vaccine, ITOP1, is in a University of Oxford-led trial for cancer of the food pipe (oesophageal adenocarcinoma).

We did not find a formal mission statement. Its closing line in a company announcement is 'Right targets. Right vectors. Right patients. Right time.'

The company is based in Oxford, England, and grew out of Cancer Research UK-supported work at the University of Oxford. It holds Innovate UK grants. Its team covers antigen discovery, immunology, vaccines, vector engineering, manufacturing and clinical development.

Its co-founder and chief medical officer Dr Jonathan Kwok describes entering the clinic as a defining milestone, which signals a team that works closely with doctors and researchers. Headcount and culture were not stated.

We found no sourced graduate scheme, internship or apprenticeship (a search for one returned only University of Oxford schemes). Contact the company through its website, and look at Oxford careers services if you study there.

What they do

• {'desc': 'Ready-made vaccines targeted at specific tumour markers.', 'title': 'Cancer vaccines'}
• {'desc': 'Finding tumour antigens cancer cells display.', 'title': 'Precision Immunomics'}
• {'desc': 'Running the ITOP1 trial with the University of Oxford.', 'title': 'Clinical development'}

Key facts

• Based in Oxford, England
• Lead vaccine ITOP1 in the VISTA Phase 1/2a trial
• Co-founder, President and CMO: Dr Jonathan Kwok
• Holds two Innovate UK grants

Website: www.infinitopes.com