Biotech company of the year

Immunocore was recognized as SCRIP Awards 2015’s Biotech of the Year. Immunocore is a world-leading biotech company developing novel T cell receptor (TCR) based biological drugs for the treatment of cancer, viral infections and autoimmune disease. 2015 was a transformational year for Immunocore, which was founded in 2008 out of Oxford University and has headquarters outside Oxford, United Kingdom.

During last year Immunocore advanced partnerships with international pharmaceutical partners to develop novel immuno-oncology assets, entered into clinical combination trial collaborations, strengthening its executive team and board of directors, and future-proofed its balance sheet with a $320 million Series A fundraising allowing for significant financial flexibility.

Immunocore’s world-leading science and strong IP position has attracted major pharma companies such as Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, and MedImmune – the biologics division of AstraZeneca – via discovery collaborations as well as a co-discovery and joint-development partnership with Lilly.

Immunocore has entered into combination trials with its lead program, IMCgp100 in melanoma, with MedImmune and Lilly. During January 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted orphan drug designation to IMCgp100 for treating uveal melanoma. The orphan drug status qualifies Immunocore for various development incentives and allows the company to receive fast track registration for the ImmTAC (Immune mobilizing mTCR Against Cancer) therapeutic IMCgp100.

Additionally during January 2016, Immunocore announced the beginning of a Phase Ib/II combination trial for treating metastatic cutaneous melanoma. The study is evaluating IMCgp100 in combination with durvalumab and tremelimumab, the investigational immunotherapies of MedImmune.