Fidelity Investments and Polaris Partners have both made major investments into biotech and cancer immunotherapy startups over the past few years. Fidelity is one of the largest asset managers globally with over $11 trillion in assets under management, while Polaris is a leading venture capital firm focused on healthcare and technology. Both have seen the potential in backing innovative startups using next-generation approaches like personalized neoantigen vaccines and AI/ML to develop breakthrough treatments for cancer. Their investments signal a belief that these cutting-edge areas of R&D could lead to the next wave of advances in oncology and generate strong returns.
Key investments by Fidelity and Polaris in cancer immunotherapy startups utilizing personalized neoantigen vaccines
Fidelity and Polaris have made multiple investments into startups exploring personalized cancer vaccines based on mutant neoantigens found only in tumor cells:
– Neon Therapeutics: Fidelity participated in Neon’s $70 million Series C round in 2018, while Polaris was one of the early backers of the company. Neon is a leader in developing personalized neoantigen vaccines and T cell therapies for cancer. Its NT219 program is now in Phase 1 trials.
– BioNTech: Fidelity invested $150 million into BioNTech’s Series B round in 2019. BioNTech is another pioneer in using mRNA personalized vaccines targeting neoantigens. It has several candidates in trials across melanoma, breast cancer, and other tumor types.
– Gritstone Oncology: Polaris led Gritstone’s $105 million Series C round in 2017 and continues to back the company. Gritstone utilizes a proprietary AI platform to identify optimal personal neoantigens and has a Phase 1/2 trial ongoing in solid tumors.
The success of early clinical trials by companies like BioNTech and Neon has validated the promise of neoantigen vaccines for cancer treatment. Both Fidelity and Polaris saw this potential early on and enabled these startups to advance their innovative personalized medicines pipelines.
Fidelity Investments and Polaris Partners identified personalized cancer immunotherapy targeting tumor neoantigens as a promising approach. Their early and sizeable investments into multiple leading startups like Neon Therapeutics and BioNTech developing novel neoantigen cancer vaccines have fueled progress in this cutting-edge field of oncology R&D.