Best-in-class treatments for HPV+ cancers
Our Mission
To transform cancer treatment by developing cutting-edge immunotherapies that effectively target HPV+ cancers, with the goal of preventing relapse, improving survival and reducing treatment-related complications.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Disease
new cancer cases caused by HPV every year
leading cause of cancer, only surpassed by tobacco
projected increase in HPV cancer incidence until 2050 (WHO)
A growing health burden
One billion people have a persistent HPV infection and are thereby at risk of developing HPV-induced cancer. HPV sits in the body for decades before cancer occurs, meaning that even if everyone was vaccinated for HPV today, we would continue to see HPV cancer for 40 more years. Today, only 20% of women and 6% of men receive preventive HPV vaccination, and the vaccines cannot treat existing infections.
No HPV treatment exists
Even though HPV is the cause of the cancer, there are no available treatments which target the virus itself. The current treatment options have severe side effects, and about one in four patients relapse following primary treatment. For recurrent cancer, the average survival is only 12 months.
One virus, many types of cancer
HPV causes cancer in many parts of the body. An example is oropharyngeal cancer (OPSCC), a type of throat cancer with more than 110,000 new cases every year, of which 70% are caused by HPV. It is one of the most rapidly increasing cancers in high-income countries and projected to increase by 63% in 2050. This increase is directly due to HPV. OPSCC mostly affects men, and more than 20% of cases are younger than 55 years.
Technology
Targeting the HPV virus to cure cancer
Loma presents a new approach to HPV-targeted immunotherapies, based on years of extensive pre-clinical research. This type of therapy is designed to train the immune system to recognize and attack HPV-positive cancer cells in a highly selective and non-invasive manner.
Upon injection, the treatment stimulates antigen-presenting cells within our immune system. Within these antigen-presenting cells, the HPV DNA from the therapy is released and 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.
Image created using BioRender
Loma’s approach stands out by encoding an unmatched amount of HPV material, namely the HPV proteins E1, E2, E6 and E7. This unique approach provides an unprecedentedly broad immune response, something which is highly important for the outcome for cancer patients.
It also takes into account that each human immune system differs – a target that is easily recognized in one patient may not be recognized efficiently in another. By providing a broad array of HPV targets, Loma increases the likelihood that each patient’s immune system will find a strong match.
Lastly, the HPV proteins targeted by Loma are present across all stages of HPV disease, ranging from early infection to late-stage cancer, allowing Loma to treat patients with cancer, as well as patients with pre-cancer HPV infections to prevent the cancer from occurring.
With an initial focus on HPV-induced throat cancer, Loma aims to expand its clinical applications to address all HPV-induced cancers and pre-cancer conditions, offering hope to patients affected by these conditions.
Key publications
Boilesen, Neckermann et al, Cancer Immunology Research, 2023: In-vivo proof of concept of Loma’s broad target
Boilesen et al, Vaccines, 2021: Review of scientific rationale behind Loma’s unique broad target approach
Daradoumis, Müller et al, Cancers, 2023: Validation in human PBMCs
Neckermann, Boilesen et al, Frontiers in Immunology, 2021: Drug design and proof-of-concept
Core Team
Ditte Boilesen, PhD
Co-founder, CEO/CSO, and co-inventor of the Loma therapy.
Stephanie Holstein‑Rønsbo, PhD
Co-founder and COO
Lasse Nørregaard, MSc, MBA
Co-founder and CBO
Martin Bardenfleth, PhD
Senior Scientist
Caroline de Blanck, MSc
Business Developer
Gaurav Gupta, PhD
CMC Manager
Mathilde Dam Sørensen, MSc
Scientist
Board of Directors
Dr. Alejandra Mørk, PhD
Chair
Leif Helth Jensen
Board Member
Dr. Stuart Collinson, PhD, MBA
Board Member
Prof. Dr. Ralf Wagner, PhD
Board Member
Umar Adegoke
BII Observer
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
Dr. Sjoerd H van der Burg, PhD
Professor of Immunology at Leiden University
Prof. Dr. Ralf Wagner, PhD
Entrepreneur and Professor at Univ. of Regensburg
Co-founder of Loma
Funding
