SurvivX is an early-stage biotech company developing a pharmaceutical product that is capable of repairing immune cells. We call our compounds innate immunity boosters. The first lead in this family of recombinant proteins (SUR-101) was first discovered following observational studies indicating that human hosts infected with a tropical parasite (filariasis) are less susceptible to sepsis. A protein secreted by the parasite triggers a strong immune response by activating so called toll-like receptors (TLRs) 2 and 4, possibly along with the CD14 pathway. We have designed SUR 101 based on this observation, and have demonstrated that SUR-101 acts as highly potent booster of the innate immune system.
Our novel approach to radically change the outcome of diseases where the immune system fails
- SUR 101 is our lead compound and part of a big family of patented immune boosters that we develop as a platform technology.
- We started in 2023 at the foundation of the company with sepsis as lead indication.
- SUR-101 targets and modulates key immunological functions of the host’s innate immune system.
- The same mechanisms of immune dysregulation found in sepsis are found in many other diseases.
- SUR-101 has proven efficacy in sepsis animal models, and therefore has potential in many other therapeutic indications, such as in immuno-oncology, trauma and major surgery
Our novel approach to radically change the outcome of sepsis
- Sepsis, also known as septicemia or blood poisoning, is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to infection causes injury to its own tissues and organs. This initial stage of overreaction is followed by suppression of the immune system.
- Sepsis is caused by many organisms including bacteria, viruses and fungi. Common locations for the primary infection include the lungs, brain, urinary tract, skin, and abdominal organs. Risk factors include being very young or old, a weakened immune system from conditions such as cancer or diabetes, major trauma, and burns.
- Despite the advances in therapeutic strategies, the high sepsis mortality rate is mainly caused by multiple organ failure and hypotension typically seen in later stages of sepsis.
- More recently, there has been more attention for the problem of immune suppression in patients with sepsis, rather than hyper-inflammation, as one of driving forces behind the adverse prognosis in clinical sepsis.
- This has led to the concept that use of enhancers of host innate immunity (rather than anti-inflammatory agents) could be beneficial for management of patients with septic shock, particularly those with immune suppression.
- We have a revolutionary new approach towards improving the outcome of sepsis by applying these novel insights.
- SUR-101 is developed as a novel immune stimulating therapeutic in sepsis patients with signs of immune suppression.
Our novel approach to boost the effectiveness of immuno therapy in cancer
- Immunotherapies (targeted antibodies, cancer vaccines, adoptive cell transfer, tumor-infecting viruses, checkpoint inhibitors, cytokines, and adjuvants) have revolutionized the field of cancer therapeutics, but a substantial subset of patients fail to respond.
- Failure of immunotherapies has been linked to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), that is enabling tumor cells to evade immune surveillance
- The tumor microenvironment (TME) can for example impact T cell function by inducing phenotypes of anergy, exhaustion, or senescence.
- Stimulation of the innate immune system by our innate immunity boosters directly into the tumor could provide a novel neoadjuvant chemotherapy (‘primer’) approach to restore T cells function via boosting the innate immune cells that are needed for T cells to function well.
- Our innate immunity boosters could thus be used to design rational immune-oncology combination strategies that activate both innate and adaptive immunity and thereby may have the potential to enhance the efficacy of current immunotherapeutic approaches.