Vator Securities acts as Sole Global Coordinator and Sole Bookrunner in ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies 102 MSEK Rights Issue
About ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies
ExpreS2ion Biotech is a biotechnology company that develops vaccines based on complex proteins targeting infectious diseases and cancer. The company develops a pipeline of preventive and therapeutic vaccine products while generating revenue by outlicensing the company’s ExpreS2 platform. The lead candidate targeting COVID-19 is outlicensed to Bavarian Nordic, with positive phase II data announced in February 2022 and phase III initiated during September 2022. ExpreS2ion has a strong pipeline with multiple candidates in pre-clinical phase. The company’s vaccine targeting breast cancer is wholly owned and have shown great potential in pre-clinical trials where the company intends to file for phase I trial in the beginning of 2024.
ExpreS2ion develops novel vaccines for indications with a growing medical need, currently targeting COVID-19, breast cancer, influenza, Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and malaria. Business model includes high-potential pipeline of key focus, with multiple partnerships (Bavarian Nordic, Evaxion), backed up by Contract Research Organization (CRO) business, that has generated SEK 60 million since IPO in 2016.
Expres2ion’s out-licensed lead candidate targeting COVID-19 announced positive phase II data in February 2022. The results confirmed the ability of the candidate to boost neutralizing antibodies to levels reported to be highly efficacious (>90%) against SARS-CoV-2. The data demonstrated positive results across the major COVID-19 virus variants. Phase III trials initiated during September 2022 by Bavarian Nordic.
Current market-dominating COVID-19 vaccines are mRNA-based and thus complicated and expensive for cold chain-handling reasons, apparently the protection is also short-lived, and risks mutated virus escapes the vaccines protective effect.
ExpreS2ion’s vaccine candidate targeting breast cancer, which is wholly owned, is expected to file for clinical Phase I trials in the beginning of 2024 after preclinical safety study read-out towards the end of 2023, with first-in human trial envisioned to commence in 2024. Positive preclinical topline data was announced in December 2021 and January 2022 demonstrating preclinical Proof-of-Concept (PoC).
All ExpreS2ion’s vaccine candidates and the CRO business are based on the company’s proprietary platform, ExpreS2. The platform enables cost-and time efficient production of proteins required for the development and production of vaccines and immunotherapy products. To date the platform has produced +500 different proteins while posting a success rate exceeding 90% across +100 clients and partners.