Infinitopes

About Infinitopes

Infinitopes is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that develops precision cancer vaccines designed to prevent recurrence after surgery. Spun out of the University of Oxford in September 2021 by Cancer Research UK (CRUK), the company combines expertise in T-cell immunology, antigen discovery, and vaccine design. The co-founders include CEO Dr. Jonathan Kwok, an oncologist and immunologist with experience in investment banking; VP Preclinical Dr. Lian Ni Lee, an immunologist with a background at GSK and Pfizer; and VP Vector Design Dr. Senthil Chinnakannan, an expert in vaccine design and molecular biology. The company's scientific foundation was built upon CRUK-funded research from the laboratories of Professor Paul Klenerman and Associate Professor Nicola Ternette, with clinical programs led by Professor Mark Middleton.

The company's business model revolves around creating 'off-the-shelf' therapeutic vaccines, which are designed to be effective for a broad patient population rather than personalized for individuals. This approach targets a significant market need for accessible and affordable treatments to prevent cancer metastasis, the cause of 70-90% of cancer-related deaths. Infinitopes' core technology is its Precision Immunomics™ platform, which utilizes artificial intelligence, machine learning, and mass spectrometry-driven immunopeptidomics to identify novel, tumor-specific antigens that are shared across many patients. This antigen discovery engine is paired with a proprietary vector delivery system designed to induce strong and durable T-cell immune responses necessary to prevent cancer recurrence.

Infinitopes' lead product is ITOP1, a vaccine candidate aimed at preventing the recurrence of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC), a cancer with high unmet clinical need. In August 2022, the company received an Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP) innovation passport from the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This was followed by MHRA approval in April 2025 for a first-in-human Phase I/IIa clinical trial named VISTA. This trial is notable for being one of the first to administer a cancer vaccine in the neoadjuvant setting, before the primary tumor is surgically removed, to potentially enhance the immune response. The company has secured significant seed funding, reaching a total of $35.1 million by January 2026, with investments from firms like Octopus Ventures, Amplify Bio, Cancer Research Horizons, and Macmillan Cancer Support.