SilvacxPathfinder is a platform technology to addresses the acquired (or adaptive) immune system. To do this, we load the surface-modified silica nanoparticles with epitopes. Epitopes are short peptide fragments derived from proteins, typically about 8–10 amino acids for CD8+ T cells and 13–17 amino acids for CD4+ T cells. They can originate from proteins produced by infected cells or cancer cells. After processing, these fragments are displayed on the cell surface by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, allowing the immune system to recognize cells carrying disease-related antigens. After subcutaneous administration, the antigen-loaded nanoparticles are taken up by dendritic cells (DCs). Inside the DCs, the cargo is released and processed for presentation on both MHC class I and MHC class II molecules. This enables activation of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and helper CD4+ T cells. Dendritic cells also release cytokines and chemokines that help shape and amplify the immune response. As a result, T cells are guided to recognize and eliminate cells that display the target epitope on their surface.
surrounding a cancer cell
The first Application: A Therapeutic HPV vaccine
In collaboration with the team of Angelika Riemer at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), we are evaluating a novel therapeutic vaccine against HPV-related cancers for proof of concept. Several "deep dive" in vivo studies were performed and are ongoing. We were able to demonstrate that virus peptides coupled to surface-functionalized silica nanoparticles can elicit effective T-cell responses against HPV-related tumors. In a mouse model, the nanoparticle-based vaccine was able to partially or completely suppress HPV-related tumors. The paper is published in OncoImunnology, Vol. 14, No 1, 2025, 2548002 (DOI 10.1080/2162402X.2025.2548002).
The generated know-how is the basis for therapeutic vaccines against other cancer entities and the basis for building a technology platform dedicated for neoepitope-based personalized antitumor vaccines.
Customers / Target Market
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Cancer is, in general, the second leading cause of death world wide, and is responsible for an estimated 10 million deaths in 2024. Globally, about 1 in 6 deaths is due to cancer. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is likely to be the number two human carcinogen after tobacco. Each year, HPV causes 530,000 new cancer cases, including cervical, anogenital, and head & neck HPV-related cancers. However, the available preventative vaccines have protective effects, they are not effective once HPV infection is established. Moreover, the overall low vaccination rate will not reduce cancer cases sufficiently.
The Silvacx’s target market is focused also on personalized immunotherapy based on neoepitopes, which could outperform any medical application field. This is an extremely attractive and huge market.
Competition
Silvacx’s competitors in the fields of immunotherapy against HPV-related cancers and neoepitope-based vaccines, are e.g. ISA Pharmaceuticals, Advaxis, Neon Therapeutics, BioNTech and Moderna. Silvacx's technology platform, in contrast to the competitors, is dedicated for the rapid production of personalized vaccines based on neoepitopes conjugated with highly immunogenic silica nanoparticles. Using the carefully selected epitopes in vaccine design, post translational modifications of mutated proteins can be realized too. The peptide synthesis, the proprietary Silvacx’s spacer+linker technology as well as the conjugation with silica nanoparticles can be performed within hours.