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MedXCell NKar is a French Life Science company active in the field of immunotherapy. Founded and supported by MedXCell SA, a Swiss holding company formed by private investors, MedXCell NKar focuses on therapeutic solutions using Natural Killer (NK) cells and Fc-Engineered monoclonal antibodies (pin-mAbs). MedXCell NKar’s ambition is to become the leader in providing cell-therapy products for immunotherapy.
Labelised Bpifrance Excellence in 2021 and made up of an experienced team of 10 people operating in Switzerland and France, MedXCell NKar has built a strong relationship with world-class academic institutions in Montpellier (France) in particular with the CHU (University Hospital) and the University of Montpellier. SATT AxLR (Tech Transfer Office) of Montpellier is shareholder of the company.
Founder, Investor & Vice-Chairman
Serial entrepreneur and former. CEO of multiple companies with more than 30 years experience.
Investor & Executive Chairman
Co-founder and Chairman of MedinCell (EPA:MEDCL). Co- founder of Syntro (NASDAQ 1987) and Invitrogen (NASDAQ 1999). Invitrogen was acquired by Thermo Fisher in 2013 for $16bn.
Board Member
CEO of the Grünenthal Group (€ 1,4B Sales, 4’700 employees in 2019). Previously Company President of AstraZeneca Japan and Germany. Managed brands in immuno-oncology.
Board Member
Former Head of Manufacturing at Mesoblast (NASDAQ: MESO). Ex- Professor at UTMD Anderson Cancer Center. Led the Cell Therapy Laboratory at UTMD and designed its facility.
Board Member
SVP Global Clinical Development at Merck KGaA with a strong track record of drug approval (Rebif, Mavenclad). Previously Head of Scientific Affairs and Investor Relations at Serono (listing NYSE)
Board Member
Non-executive director. Formerly Ambassador to The People’s Republic of China, to Mongolia and the DPRK (2014-2019). Previously Ambassador to France and Monaco (2011-2014).
CEO
Manager with over 26 years of experience in pharmaceutical industry. IP and Business Development oriented.
CTO
Over 40 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. Founder of several biotechnology start-ups
CFO
Manager with experience in start-ups and biotech (Celgene). HEC, HSG & EPFL training.
CSO
Experienced project manager in biotech with expertise in drug development in oncology and the creation of IP.
COO
Experienced researcher and manager in immunology specializing in cell therapy.
Head of Business Development
Manager with extensive experience dedicated to innovation consulting. Strategy, finance and business development oriented.
Chief physician of hematology at the CHU of Montpellier. Among the first to inject CAR-T in France.
Adjunct director of the IRCM. Expert in antibody engineering. Published more than 100 articles.
Research director (INSERM 4). Published 79 articles, H-index 35 and quoted 5500 times.Expert in NK cells.
Professor of neurosciences. Former dean of KAUST, professor at EPFL.
Researcher at IRCM. Expert in pre-clinical validation of monoclonal antibodies. Authored 80+ articles.
Natural Killer (NK) cells are a normal component of the immune system. They are characterized by an ability to eliminate undesirable cells in the body, and to do this without requiring an adaptive response. These characteristics make NK cells an attractive proposition as allogeneic (donor-derived) treatments which can act rapidly and effectively in a patient without requiring engagement with the patient’s own immune system. This is especially desirable in pathologies where the immune system is compromised.
Specific elimination of pathogenic cells are at the origin of different diseases. These cells are targeted by specific modified monoclonal antibodies that guide the ultimate effectors, Natural Killer cells, in their destruction. eNKab plateform, a patented engineering of mAbs and Fc-based ligands, enables pre-administration arming of effector cells for stable and persistent potency.
Allogeneic NK cells from umbilical cord blood or peripheral blood armed with Fc-engineered mAbs (pin-mAbs) are extracted in order to obtain CD3neg mononuclear cells (conventional cell selection).
Mature NK Cells (eNK)
CD16/FcgR3a
Using co-stimulation with feeder cells and cytokines, NK cells mutate on the Fc region of mAbs allowing stable and long-lasting binding to effector cells. This process is optimized in house for expanding and « arming » NK cells without any genetic modification. While insuring an universal donor, this mechanism of action and its efficacy are validated through an in vitro pharmacology.
Fc-based ligands (antibodies, peptides, antigens, etc. … ) come and arm on effector cell for specificity and targeting. This monoclonal antibody or Fc-construct implicates full library of known monoclonal therapeutics and new monoclonals. Those patented engineering of Fc part enable to permanently arm cells prior to administration.
ACTIVE DRUG SUBSTANCE
Infected cells are routinely opsonized with antibodies for detection by immune cells. Antibodies that bind to antigens can be recognised by receptors expressed on eNK cells, resulting in eNK activation, release of cytolytic granules and consequent cell apoptosis. This is a major killing mechanism of some monoclonal antibodies.
The contribution of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) to tumor cell killing can be measured and then be injected to the patient with a high control and consistent characteristics from consistent components, an efficient plateform which a derivative manufactured full of potential.
Easy manufacture
Safety
Regulatory
Simplicity
High control
High versatility
High potency & efficiency
PIPELINE
With a proof of concept on this indication, MXNK-101 Program targeting the 3rd treatment line (standard of Care (SOC)), could lead to better results on R/R B-NHL at a lower cost because of a high cytotoxicity on primary cancer cells from patients. In order to target the most solid tumors, other auto-immune diseases or other indications, and once safety profile of NK cells are established, other proprietary mAbs or existing developped by partners mAbs could be activated.
Program
Indication
Discovery
In vivo PoC
IND-enabling
Phase I/II
Pivotal
MXNK-101
B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (B-NHL)
MXNK-XXX
Solid Tumors & Others indications
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