NexImmune and Zephyr AI Announce a Strategic Partnership in Oncology for Target Discovery and Validation

NexImmune, Inc. and Zephyr AI (Zephyr) announced a strategic partnership focusing on the discovery and validation of novel targets for new T-cell-mediated therapies in oncology. Combining Zephyr’s proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic technology with NexImmune’s Artificial Immune Modulation (AIM) nanoparticle technology, the collaboration will seek to identify and validate optimal antigens and antigen cocktails for the development of potential new therapeutics in solid and hematological cancers.

Under the terms of the agreement, Zephyr will employ its proprietary AI and machine learning technology to identify targets suitable for activating T-cell-mediated anti-tumor responses. Specifically, Zephyr will evaluate a range of molecular and genetic data through in silico target discovery to uncover known, high potential tumor-associated antigens and neoantigens that map to specific subtypes of cancer. NexImmune will screen and validate these targets using its proprietary AIM platform. The collaboration will focus on selecting multiple cognate peptides derived from known tumor-associated antigens and neoantigens to rapidly develop new product candidates for clinical trials in patients with cancer in need of lifesaving treatments.

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“Artificial intelligence is transforming the way the biopharmaceutical industry is approaching target discovery and drug development with the potential to accelerate antigen-specific immunotherapies into the clinic,” said Kristi Jones, CEO of NexImmune. “The partnership with Zephyr helps us build a library of novel targets, which can lead to new and more effective cancer therapeutics. We believe that Zephyr’s technology is key to helping us identify disease-specific, shared antigens and neoantigens as targets – which can be combined and delivered using the AIM platform – in addition, it may also increase our knowledge of how cancers evolve with the potential to address immune escape mechanisms.”

“NexImmune’s AIM platform has shown itself to be a powerful and novel technology for the activation of cancer-fighting T-cells, and complements Zephyr’s ability to identify optimal targets for the immune system across a range of cancer types. Our partnership with NexImmune will deepen our understanding of the nuances in oncological diseases and immune therapeutic behavior and, most exciting, will be our first opportunity to externally demonstrate the power of Zephyr’s target discovery platform,” said David L. Morgan, CEO of Zephyr AI. “Our combined goal is to accelerate drug discovery by identifying antigens to generate targeted, potent, and durable immune responses for patients with cancer, while reducing time and cost in the discovery and clinical process. We believe this collaboration will lead to breakthrough learnings about how cancers develop and progress, and ultimately lead to improved patient outcomes.”

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