Hephaistos Pharma

Founded in 2018 and based in Orsay, France, Hephaistos Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company that develops medicine for cancer treatment. Martine Caroff (CSO), Jean-Marc Cavaillon, Frederic Caroff (CEO), and Alexey Novikov are the co-founders of the company. In January 2024, Hephaistos Pharma raised EUR 2 million in seed funding, co-led by Xista Science Ventures, the Fournier-Majoie Foundation, and Noshaq. The company specialized in developing immunomodulators, which strengthen the immune system to fight cancer.

The firm develops immunotherapy by inducing an immunological response in the patient and converting cold tumours into targets for the immune system. The injectable immunostimulant known as the onco-boost platform from Hephaistos targets metastatic and difficult-to-reach malignancies such as osteosarcoma.   This mechanism involves stimulating monocytes and dendritic cells to recruit and mature immune defenses such as CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, and macrophages. In addition, monoclonal antibodies block the pathways by which host cells and tumour cells recognise each other, enabling the immune system to eliminate tumours.

The group also has a natural adjuvant called vaxi-boost that functions as a human vaccination in its pipeline. The company’s partners include Medicen, Genopole, Leon Berard, BioAster, Pulsalys, and others. The organization plans to use the January 2024 funding to industrialize the company's production process and prepare for clinical trials, aiming to advance onco-boost into clinical development for solid tumor treatment.