Agilvax

Agilvax, Inc. operates as a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of antibody-based therapeutics for various cancers. Founded in 2011, the firm is headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with additional lab facilities at JLABS @ TMC in Houston, Texas. The company was established to commercialize a proprietary virus-like particle (VLP) platform technology developed by University of New Mexico researchers Dr. David Peabody and Dr. Bryce Chackerian. This platform, derived from RNA bacteriophages, is engineered to present antigens in a structured pattern, designed to elicit a strong and specific immune response against cancer cells.

The company’s primary business involves creating targeted cancer immunotherapies. Agilvax's main focus has been on targeting xCT (SLC7A11), a cystine-glutamate antiporter protein that is overexpressed in many cancer types—including breast, colorectal, lung, and pancreatic cancers—but has low expression in normal cells. This overexpression is linked to tumor growth and resistance to therapy. The lead product candidate, AX09, is an immunotherapy developed to inhibit the function of xCT, with an initial focus on treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive form of the disease with limited effective treatment options. The business model centers on advancing its product pipeline through preclinical and clinical trials, funded by a combination of equity financing and grants, with the ultimate goal of commercialization or strategic partnerships.

Since its inception, Agilvax has secured approximately $6.5 million in total funding through a series of seven rounds, including grants and Series A investments. Key investors include J Hunt Holdings, Sun Mountain Capital, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and HHS. The company has received multiple Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants from the NCI to advance the development of AX09. These grants have supported preclinical studies, manufacturing, and toxicology studies necessary for a potential Investigational New Drug (IND) application. While the company made strides in its development programs, reports indicate it became a deadpooled company as of early 2022. Keywords: cancer immunotherapy, antibody-based therapeutics, virus-like particle, VLP technology, triple-negative breast cancer, xCT inhibitor, SLC7A11, biopharmaceutical, oncology, vaccine development, preclinical trials, National Cancer Institute, SBIR grant, JLABS, targeted therapy, antibody-drug conjugate, AX09, cancer stem cells, metastatic breast cancer, drug discovery