Onyvax

Onyvax Limited was a UK-based biotechnology company that developed therapeutic cancer vaccines designed to activate the patient's immune system to target and eliminate tumor cells. Founded in 1997 as Pearlmark Enterprises, the company was established around the research of Professor Angus Dalgleish from St. George's Hospital Medical School in London, who served as the research director. Onyvax aimed to create off-the-shelf vaccines that could be manufactured in bulk, rather than relying on cells from individual patients.

The company's business model focused on the research and development of a pipeline of cancer immunotherapies, funded through several private financing rounds. Onyvax raised a total of $41.9 million over four rounds, with its last Series C funding in May 2006 for $14.9 million from investors including 3i Group, SR One, and Merlin Biosciences. The company's lead product was Onyvax-P, a vaccine for prostate cancer composed of three irradiated allogeneic prostate cancer cell lines. This product underwent Phase II clinical trials in Europe and the US. Other vaccines in its pipeline included treatments for colorectal cancer (Onyvax-CR), lung cancer (Onyvax-L), and potentially melanoma (Onyvax-M).

Throughout its operation, Onyvax achieved several milestones, including the initiation of multiple clinical trials and securing a broad US patent for Onyvax-P in 2007. However, the development of its colorectal cancer vaccine was discontinued in 2008. While Onyvax-P showed some positive results in early trials, the company ultimately ceased operations. In 2009, VaxOnco Inc. acquired the rights to the Onyvax-P cell vaccine. UK government records indicate that Onyvax Limited is now dissolved, marking the end of its journey in developing cancer vaccines.

Keywords: cancer vaccines, immunotherapy, prostate cancer, Onyvax-P, allogeneic vaccine, clinical trials, biotechnology, cell-based therapy, colorectal cancer, oncology, immune response, tumor antigens, Angus Dalgleish, VaxOnco, Pearlmark Enterprises, St. George's Hospital, SR One, 3i Group, Merlin Biosciences, dissolved company