Best-in-class treatment of HPV+ cancers
Our Mission
To transform cancer treatment by developing a cutting-edge immunotherapy that effectively targets HPV+ cancers, including head and neck, cervical, anal, and penile cancers, with the goal of preventing relapse and reducing treatment-related complications.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Disease
%
of human population carries a persistent HPV infection
%
of the total cancer cases globally is caused by HPV
cancer cases caused by HPV globally per year
A growing health burden
One billion people, or 12% of the global population, have a persistent HPV infection and are thereby at risk of developing HPV-induced cancer. Currently, only 17% of women and 5% of men have received a vaccine that prevents HPV infection, but it does not help eradicate existing infections.
HPV-induced cancers
Annually, more than 800.000 cancers are caused by HPV. These include cervical, oropharyngeal, anal, penile, vaginal, and vulvar cancer. Current treatments are harsh and cause severe morbidity. They do not target the root cause: the HPV infection, which when left active, can lead to treatment failure and recurrence.
Oropharyngeal cancer
HPV causes 70% of all squamous cell carcinomas in the throat (oropharynx) leading to 110,000 new cases every year. It is one of the most rapidly increasing cancers in high-income countries and projected to increase by 60% in 2050. Oropharyngeal cancer (OPSCC) affects men 4 times more often than women, and more than 20% of cases are younger than 55 years.
Technology
HPV-targeted Immunotherapy
Loma presents a new approach to HPV-targeted immunotherapy, based on years of extensive pre-clinical research. The goal of HPV-targeted immunotherapy is to trigger the activation of diverse anti-HPV cytotoxic (CD8+) T cells. These T cells recognize various components of HPV, thereby enabling them to target and kill HPV+ tumor cells as well as cells infected by HPV, which are predisposed to undergo malignant transformation into cancerous cells.
Loma’s HPV-specific immunotherapy stands out by targeting a very wide range of full-length HPV antigens, expressed throughout all stages of the HPV viral life cycle. The nucleotide sequence encoding these HPV antigens are delivered by replication-deficient viral vectors ensuring strong responses and high safety.
Upon injection of Loma’s immunotherapy, the viral vector stimulates antigen-presenting cells within our immune system. Within these antigen-presenting cells, the HPV DNA encoded in the viral vector is translated into proteins, which are then processed and displayed on the cell surface for recognition by cytotoxic (CD8+) T cells. This interaction leads to the activation of CD8+ T cells that undergo proliferation and assemble into a formidable army poised to identify and combat cells harboring HPV cancer and HPV infection.
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Loma: Better efficacy, broader coverage
Loma’s immunotherapy stands out as a ground-breaking treatment option in the medical field, showcasing unparalleled ability to elicit robust and broad T cell responses. Loma001 targets four different HPV antigens, increasing the likelihood that activated T cells recognize the HPV-infected cells, as evidenced by extensive studies in mice and non-human primates. This translates into an enhanced likelihood of generating a robust immune response in all treated patients, preventing cancer cells from escaping.
The strength of the immune responses induced by Loma001 can be attributed to its innovative combination of a carefully selected vector modality for delivery and a genetic adjuvant that maximizes immune activation. By comprehensively targeting all HPV-infected cells, Loma is designed to eradicate existing cancer and to prevent the progression of potentially cancerous cells, thereby mitigating the risk of disease recurrence and metastasis — a phenomenon currently accounting for 25% of throat cancer cases. Additionally, Loma’s approach has the potential to be used as a treatment for pre-cancer infections, to prevent cancer from even developing.
With its initial focus on HPV-induced throat cancer, Loma aims to expand its clinical applications to address all HPV-induced cancers, offering hope to a significant global population affected by these conditions.
Core Team
Ditte Boilesen, PhD
Co-founder, CEO/CSO, and co-inventor of the Loma therapy.
Martin Wiinberg, PhD
Scientist
Stephanie Holstein-Rønsbo, PhD
Co-founder and COO.
Caroline de Blanck, MSc
Business Developer
Lasse Nørregaard, MSc, MBA
CBO
Diego Ruiz Espi, MSc
Jr. Business Developer
Advisors
Dr. John T. Schiller, PhD
World-leading expert in HPV
Dr. David T. Curiel, PhD
World-leading expert in mRNA vaccines
Dr. Peter J. Holst, PhD
CSO of Hervolution and Ass. Professor at UCPH
Co-founder of Loma
Sjoerd H van der Burg, PhD
Professor of Immunology at Leiden University
Dr. Ralf Wagner, PhD
Entrepreneur and Professor at Univ. of Regensburg
Co-founder of Loma
Funding
