Immune Design

About Immune Design

Immune Design Corp. operated as a clinical-stage immunotherapy company, directing its efforts toward developing novel treatments for cancer, infectious diseases, and allergies by harnessing the body's own immune system. Founded in 2008, the company was built upon the scientific discoveries of prominent immunologists, including Nobel Laureate Dr. David Baltimore and the late Dr. Ralph Steinman, who discovered dendritic cells. The firm's strategy was centered on in-vivo approaches, aiming to activate the immune system directly within the body to fight disease.

The company's core consisted of two distinct but complementary technology platforms: ZVex and GLAAS (Glucopyranosyl Lipid A Adjuvant System). The ZVex platform utilized a lentiviral vector designed to deliver the genetic code for a tumor antigen to dendritic cells, which are crucial for initiating an anti-tumor immune response. GLAAS, a synthetic small molecule platform, was developed to stimulate both innate and adaptive immunity. These platforms were engineered to generate and expand antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells to combat cancer and other chronic diseases. This technological foundation allowed the company to create a pipeline of "off-the-shelf" therapies.

Immune Design's business model focused on advancing its product pipeline through clinical trials and strategic collaborations with major pharmaceutical companies. Its lead product candidates included G100, derived from the GLAAS platform, for treating Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and CMB305, which used a combination of the ZVex and GLAAS platforms to target tumors expressing the NY-ESO-1 antigen. The company established partnerships with firms like Sanofi and Merck to explore applications of its technology in areas such as peanut allergies, herpes, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), in addition to its primary focus on oncology. After raising approximately $101 million over seven funding rounds from investors including The Column Group, Alta Partners, and Versant Ventures, Immune Design went public in July 2014, raising $60 million in its initial public offering. The company's journey culminated in its acquisition by Merck in February 2019 for approximately $300 million, a move intended to bolster Merck's capabilities in vaccine development for infectious diseases and cancer.