Oxford-based Accession Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next generation cancer immunotherapies, has announced it has been awarded €7.5 million (£6.5 million) in grant funding from Horizon Europe, the European Commission’s key funding programme for research and innovation, to advance the clinical development of the Company’s lead drug candidate, TROCEPT-01 (ATTR-01).
TROCEPT-01 is a first-in-class, tumour-activated viral immunotherapy currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 open label clinical trial (ATTEST) in patients with advanced carcinomas.
The ATTEST study is being conducted at leading clinical sites across the UK and Spain. Subject to final negotiation, the Horizon Europe grant will fund an expansion study in selected tumour indications in up to 24 participants as part of the ATTEST clinical trial to further explore the safety and efficacy of TROCEPT-01.
TROCEPT-01 is delivered systemically and designed to selectively generate a clinically validated checkpoint inhibitor (anti-PD-L1) within tumours. This approach, targeting αvβ6 integrin on epithelial tumours, optimises efficacy while minimising damage to healthy tissue.
Preclinical studies have demonstrated strong anti-tumour activity across multiple solid tumour models, supporting its potential as a targeted therapy for aggressive cancers.
Bent Jakobsen, PhD FMedSci, Chief Executive Officer of Accession Therapeutics, said: “We are delighted to receive this grant from Horizon Europe in collaboration with our partners, which recognises the potential of TROCEPT-01 (ATTR-01) as an innovative immunotherapy with applications across multiple solid tumour types.
"Alongside our ongoing ATTEST study, we look forward to continuing to build a body of data for TROCEPT-01 to validate our tumour-targeted immunotherapy platform, support future clinical trials and programmes and ultimately improve patient outcomes.”