Pfizer, through its Breakthrough Growth Initiative, has made a $35 million equity investment in Anokion SA, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on treating autoimmune disease by restoring normal immune tolerance. In conjunction with the investment, Michael Vincent, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice president and chief scientific officer, Inflammation & Immunology, Pfizer, has joined the company’s scientific advisory board, and Allison Kean, M.D., executive director, Worldwide Business Development, Pfizer has joined Anokion’s board of directors as an observer.
 
Separately, Anokion and Pfizer entered an agreement for the continued clinical development of KAN-101, Anokion’s lead candidate for the treatment of celiac disease.
 
Anokion plans to use a portion of the proceeds to fund its Phase 2 clinical program of KAN-101 in celiac disease, a serious autoimmune disorder triggered by ingestion of gluten, for which there are currently no approved treatments. Data from Anokion’s Phase 1 ACeD study (Assessment of KAN-101 in Celiac Disease) show that treatment with KAN-101 was safe and tolerated, reduced T cell responses following gluten challenge, and demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of gluten-induced serum IL-2 (interleukin-2), a key disease biomarker that may correlate with the timing and severity of symptoms after gluten exposure in celiac disease. Based on favorable findings, Anokion is preparing to initiate patient dosing in a Phase 2 clinical trial in the second half of 2022, supported by Pfizer.

“We are excited about these agreements with Pfizer as they provide us with important resources and expertise to advance our KAN-101 clinical program and our earlier-stage pipeline,” said Deborah Geraghty, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Anokion. “People living with autoimmune diseases like celiac disease need additional treatment options, and we are excited to work with Pfizer to potentially develop these utilizing our immune tolerance platform. We also look forward to leveraging Pfizer’s insights and capabilities in support of our Phase 2 clinical program in patients with celiac disease.”
 
“We believe Anokion has a unique opportunity to develop potential durable and disease-modifying treatment options for people with celiac disease and other immune-mediated disorders, and we look forward to supporting them in the continued development of KAN-101,” said Dr. Vincent. “The agreements announced today are yet another example of our commitment to collaborating with biotechs to accelerate compelling external science that could lead to true breakthroughs for patients.”