German Biotech Reels in €34M for its Cancer-Killing Technology

Heidelberg Pharma ADCs Amanitin 1

Heidelberg Pharma is developing Antibody Targeted Amanitin Conjugates (ATACs), which combine antibody-drug conjugate technology with the toxin, Amanitin.

Heidelberg Pharma has attracted over €34M of investment to support the development of its Antibody Targeted Amanitin Conjugates (ATACs) technology. The biotech, formerly Wilex, is developing drugs for cancer and autoimmune diseases, with the hope that the addition of Amanitin to antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology could produce highly effective therapeutics. The privately owned company’s sale of shares and bonds was oversubscribed and the money raised will help to progress its pipeline.

ADCs use highly specific antibodies to deliver potent toxins specifically to cancer cells, which effectively kills cancer cells while reducing the damage to healthy cells in comparison with chemotherapy. Heidelberg Pharma has combined this with Amanitin, a toxin that inhibits RNA polymerase II, which is an essential enzyme for cell division. The addition of this particularly potent cancer-killing toxin could put Heidelberg Pharma ahead of competitors like ADC Therapeutics, which is currently testing its lymphoma candidate in Phase I.


Image – media point inc / shutterstock.com

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