1 / In a nutshell, what is IR’s goal?

We are developing a completely new therapeutic for brain cancer (and later other types of cancer). We have made a lot of progress, and we’re gearing up to bring it to the patient in collaboration with the Pharma Industry. Together with current treatments, we expect that our approach will give new hope to patients.

2 / What is new and unique about your solution?

Current cancer treatments focus on the cancer cells that divide fast. This leaves behind the slow-developing cancer stem cells that evade therapy, and eventually re-generate the tumour.

We have discovered a molecular mechanism in these cells, the Hes3 Signaling Axis, that cancer exploits to promote its own regeneration. So, we now have a completely new method for identifying those cells and then attacking them with the therapeutics we are developing.

3 / What are your “secret weapons”?

Our patented Intellectual Property on a therapeutic target for brain cancer. We have generated a vast amount of experimental data that validates our therapeutic strategy.

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We will base our therapeutics on siRNA technology, which is the basis of many blockbuster drugs. A great advantage of RNA technologies is that, once you have the target (as we do), you can quickly design the therapeutic (think how fast the RNA COVID vaccine was made).

4 / What is your strategy for success?

We have already shown that

1.  most patients have our target cells in their tumor,

2. our therapeutics work very effectively in vitro, and

3. our preclinical models are rich in target cells, so they are optimal for testing the in vivo efficacy of our therapy.

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This is the one key experiment left to be done at the preclinical level, effectively  “curing” a mouse with brain cancer using our prototypical therapeutic. Once we do this we will be in the position to establish Joint Ventures, out-licensing our IP, or discuss acquisition deals with Pharma companies specializing at developing clinical-grade versions of our therapeutic. 

This key experiment has already been designed, timed, and costed by our close collaborators, the Medicines Discovery Catapult (the premier and UK-Government – supported Research technology Organization).

5 / Is your science validated?

Innate Repair scientists, over the last 23 years, have discovered and elucidated the Hes3 Signaling Axis, a new molecular mechanism with profound roles in regenerative medicine and oncology. We have published dozens of papers, including in the most respected peer-reviewed journals (Nature, PNAS, J Biol Chem, Diabetes, etc.).

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Other scientific laboratories around the world have validated and corroborated our findings in various settings.

Part of the work we have done so far involves the de-risking of our therapeutic strategy. For example, we showed that the Hes3 Signaling Axis is very important for cancer stem cells and tissue regeneration, but plays little role in normal cells, so we expect our treatments to have acceptable side-effects. In addition, having discovered an entire molecular mechanism (and not just a single target), we have alternative strategies that we can employ, should we need to.

6 / How big is the market you are after?

The global market for glioblastoma treatments was valued at $2.3B in 2021, with a projected CAGR of 8.9% through 2030. There are about 250,000 new cases per year globally, and the total cost of treatment per patient is roughly $270,000 (USA, 2017).

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Crucially, over 70% of glioblastoma patients are biomarker-positive, making them eligible for our targeted therapeutic approach.

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siRNA therapeutics for much rarer diseases have proven blockbusters for companies such as Alnylam. 

Our work has expandability beyond glioblastoma as, once the new therapeutic products are made they can be IP-protected for use in additional types of cancer (breast, prostate, sarcomas, lung, colon, liver, pancreas, etc) where we and our peers have already shown that the Hes3 Signaling Axis is a very important mechanism.

7 / What’s your exit strategy?

Once this next experiment is successfully completed we will position ourselves for joint venture, out-licensing IP, or acquisition by Big Pharma companies.

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Other biotech startup acquisitions at similar phases have been at valuations ranging from hundreds of millions of USD (e.g. T3 Pharmaceuticals’ bacterial cancer therapy acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim for $500M, Scorpion’s Preclinical lung cancer assets acquired by Pierre Fabre for $535M, and Ensem’s Experimental cancer therapy acquired by BeiGene for $1.3B).

8 / Aren’t you too small for such bold goals?

Innate Repair operates as a “Virtual Biotech”, meaning that experiments are performed by outside collaborators, including the exclusive Medicines Discovery Catapult who have selected us on merit, and the Max Planck Institute. This reduces costs, allowing us to perform complex experiments on a modest budget. In addition, it ensures that our R&D is performed at the highest level by impartial, world class scientific institutions that are considered the world’s gold standard in such matters.

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So far all the money we have raised goes into our experiments. 

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Having said this, part of the funding we’re raising now will go towards hiring a few key people. But the focus is always on executing our experiments and accelerating our progress.

9 / Why Capital Cell?

Capital Cell is the world’s leading alternative investment platform for early-stage biotech and life science companies. Our partnership with Capital Cell is a testament to the rigorous standards we’ve met, having successfully passed their comprehensive vetting process. This process included thorough scientific, financial, and legal due diligence, conducted by their extensive network of biotech researchers and independent professionals.

We’re honored to be part of the Capital Cell community, connecting with innovative startups and forward-thinking investors!

10 / How can I help?

Explore our science, our goals, and our business plan to get a deeper understanding of what we’re striving to achieve. If our vision sparks your excitement and you’re inspired to join us on this journey, you can support us by making a modest investment and becoming part of the iR family.

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Even if investing isn’t an option, you can still make a big impact by sharing our story with others who might be interested. Your support—whether through investment or simply spreading the word—is hugely appreciated!