Valo Therapeutics Oy secured €19 million in funding to advance the clinical development of its lead cancer immunotherapy candidate, PeptiCRAd. The investment round includes €13 million co-led by Indaco Venture Partners and CDP Venture Capital SGR, with support from Fondazione ENEA Tech e Biomedical, combined with a previously completed €6 million round from Australian investors. This funding will enable Valo to expand its Phase 1B clinical trial for PeptiCRAd, a tumor antigen-coated oncolytic virus platform designed to boost anti-tumor immune responses in patients with solid tumors.
This investment marks a critical step forward in the development of a novel approach to cancer immunotherapy. PeptiCRAd’s innovative mechanism of action, coating oncolytic viruses with tumor antigens, offers the potential to overcome limitations of existing immunotherapies and expand treatment options for patients with difficult-to-treat solid tumors. The establishment of an Italian operating company, Valo Therapeutics Italy Srl, based in Naples, will contribute to patient enrollment and treatment in Southern Italy, facilitate large-scale virus manufacturing, and support related research activities, creating a localized hub for immunotherapy advancement. The expansion of clinical trials into Italy, Australia, and Germany signifies a broadening reach for this promising therapy and could contribute to a more robust and diverse dataset for evaluating its efficacy.
The €19 million investment provides Valo with the necessary resources to complete the Phase 1B clinical trial and lay the groundwork for larger Phase 2 trials. The funding will also support the establishment of Valo Therapeutics Italy Srl, crucial for manufacturing, research collaborations, and patient recruitment in Southern Italy. This strategic investment demonstrates a significant commitment to PeptiCRAd’s development, suggesting confidence in its potential clinical and commercial viability.
This investment and the expansion of the clinical trials signal a promising future for Valo Therapeutics and the advancement of PeptiCRAd. Positive results from the Phase 1B trial could pave the way for larger-scale clinical development, attracting further investment and potentially leading to a much-needed new treatment option for patients with solid tumors. The establishment of the Italian hub adds a new dimension to Valo’s operations, potentially fostering further innovation in the field and providing benefits to both the local economy and the broader scientific community.
Jon Napitupulu is Director of Media Relations at The Clinical Trial Vanguard. Jon, a computer data scientist, focuses on the latest clinical trial industry news and trends.
