Heat Biologics Inc. is a U.S. biotechnology company focused on the field of immunotherapy. Heat Biologics was founded by Jeff Wolf and Eckhard Podack, in conjunction with the University of Miami and Seed-One Ventures.[3] The company is based in Morrisville, North Carolina.[2]

Heat Biologics Inc.
Company typePublic
NasdaqHTBX[1]
IndustryBiotechnology
Founded2008; 16 years ago (2008)
HeadquartersMorrisville, North Carolina, U.S.[2]
Area served
Morrisville, North Carolina,[2]
New Brunswick, New Jersey,[2]
and San Antonio, Texas, U.S.[2]
Key people
Jeffrey Wolf
(Founder and CEO)
ProductsHS-110, HS-130, PTX-35 and COVID-19 program
Websiteheatbio.com

History

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In 2008, Heat Biologics was founded by Jeff Wolf and Eckhard Podack, in conjunction with the University of Miami and Seed-One Ventures.[3] The company relocated to North Carolina in 2011.[2] NCBiotech provided $225,000 of initial funding the same year.[2]

On July 24, 2013, Heat Biologics stock went public on NASDAQ under ticker symbol HTBX.[1]

In 2017, Heat Biologics acquired an 80% controlling interest in Pelican Therapeutics.[4]

Morrisville, North Carolina became the company's headquarters in 2019.[2]

In 2020, the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami collaborated with Heat Biologics to develop a COVID-19 vaccine using gp-96 to express antigens associated with COVID-19.[5]

In 2021, Heat Biologics began Phase 2 clinical trials for a new non-small cell lung cancer treatment (HS-110). It also initiated a Phase 1 trial for HS-130, its off-the-shelf cell line engineered to stimulate T-cells to assist in immune response to disease.[2]

Pipeline products

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HS-110

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HS-110, also called viagenpumatucel-L, is in Phase II in NSCLC, in combination with cyclophosphamide. Another Phase I study is combining HS 110 with nivolumab and other checkpoint inhibitors.[6]

HS-130

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HS-130 is in Phase I clinical trial for patients with solid tumors. HS-130 is an allogeneic (“off-the-shelf”) cell line engineered to express OX40 ligand fusion protein (OX40L-Fc). OX40 ligand is a key co-stimulator of T cells that augments antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses.[7]

COVID-19 Vaccine

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The company initiated a COVID-19 vaccine collaboration with the University of Miami in March 2020 using their gp96 platform which activates the human immune system to combat infectious diseases with the potential of generating long-term immune responses.[8]

PTX-35

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PTX-35 is in Phase I clinical trial for patients with solid tumors. PTX-35 is a potential first-in-class T cell co-stimulator targeting TNFRSF25 (Death Receptor 3). Favorable safety profile was demonstrated in mice and non-human primates. PTX-35's development plan focuses on cancer immunotherapy.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Heat Biologics, Inc. Announces Closing of Initial Public Offering of 2,500,000 Shares of Common Stock". Heatbio.com. July 29, 2013. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Bryant Haskins (June 24, 2021). "Heat Biologics To Double Size of Morrisville R&D Center". North Carolina Biotechnology Center.
  3. ^ a b Howard Cohen (October 15, 2015). "Dr. Eckhard Podack, University of Miami cancer researcher, dies at 72". Miami Herald.
  4. ^ Allan Maurer (November 3, 2020). "'Synergy' Behind Heat Biologics/Pelican deal is Key to Immunology". North Carolina Biotechnology Center.
  5. ^ Richard Westlund (March 18, 2020). "Immunology researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine are collaborating with North Carolina-based Heat Biologics, Inc. to develop a vaccine for the novel coronavirus COVID-19". Miller School of Medicine.
  6. ^ Heat Biologics (2020-01-24). "A Phase 2, Multicenter, Randomized Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Viagenpumatucel-L (HS-110) in Combination With Low Dose (Metronomic) Cyclophosphamide Versus Chemotherapy Alone in Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Adenocarcinoma After Failure of Two or Three Previous Treatment Regimens for Advanced Disease". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. ^ Heat Biologics (2020-09-14). "A Phase I, First-in-human, Dose-escalation Study to Evaluate the Safety and Immunologic Response After Administration of HS-130 in Combination With HS-110 (Viagenpumatucel-L) in Patients With Solid Tumors Refractory to Standard Care". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ "Heat Biologics and University of Miami - gp96-Ig-S". GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News. 2020-05-18. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  9. ^ "Heat Biologics Announces First Patient Treated in First-in-Human Clinical Trial of PTX-35". BioSpace. Retrieved 2021-01-12.