Heat Biologics is an immunotherapy cancer company based in North Carolina,and listed on Nasdaq: HTBX. Heat develop drugs for non small-cell lung cancer and are in Phase II development trials using a Bristol Meyers Squibbs immune checkpoint inhibitor.
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that boosts the body's natural defences to fight cancer and helps the immune system work better at destroying cancer cells.
Heat use an off the shelf T-cell activation programme and take a platform approach. 'For the first time, we are able to take a live cell approach with multiple ways of activating cancerous cells' says John. 'We inject our drug under the skin and it has up to 50 immune associated antigens which can drive a response'.
Heat Biologics hope to be able to secure a robust partnership with a sponsor outside or inside the US, and are in talks with pharmaceutical partners right now about a major investment next year.
This interview is one of a series with Edison pharma clients shot at the Biotech and Money Conference at the Waldorf Hotel, London on 14.11.2017.
