1 The EIC Accelerator Project

The EIC Accelerator program, part of the European Innovation Council (EIC), is designed to support high-risk, high-potential small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups in Europe. The program aims to foster innovation and drive the development of breakthrough technologies that can significantly impact the market. It provides both grant funding and equity investments to facilitate the scaling of innovative projects.

Funding Structure

The EIC Accelerator offers a blended finance approach that combines non-repayable grants with equity investments. The grant can provide up to €2.5 million, which can be used to cover the costs of innovation development. This financial support is critical for startups and SMEs that often face challenges in securing funding for research and development activities.

In addition to grants, the EIC Accelerator also offers equity financing, which can reach up to €15 million until 2024. Starting in 2025, this amount will be capped at €10 million. This equity funding is designed to help companies secure sufficient capital to scale their operations and bring innovative products to market. The combined funding types enable startups to leverage public funding while attracting private investment, thus enhancing their overall financial stability.

Purpose and Impact in the DeepTech Ecosystem

The EIC Accelerator plays a pivotal role in the European DeepTech and startup ecosystem. By targeting innovative companies that are developing technologies with the potential to disrupt existing markets, the program not only provides financial support but also fosters a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation within Europe. This is particularly crucial for sectors that require substantial investment and long development timelines, such as biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and clean energy.

Moreover, the EIC Accelerator assists companies in navigating the complex landscape of private funding. By proving the viability of their technologies and business models through initial funding rounds, companies can more easily attract subsequent investments from venture capitalists and other private investors. This is particularly important in the context of the current funding landscape, where private investors are often hesitant to engage with high-risk projects without the backing of established public funding.

Case Study: ErVaccine Technologies and the OVACell Project

ErVaccine Technologies, based in France, emerged as a winner of the EIC Accelerator in June 2023, with its project OVACell focusing on the development of a novel cell immunotherapy targeting non-conventional tumor antigens in ovarian cancer. This project represents a significant advancement in the field of cancer treatment, particularly for ovarian cancer, which often presents challenges in terms of effective therapeutic options.

Technology Background

OVACell aims to harness the power of cell immunotherapy to target tumor cells that express non-conventional antigens. Traditional cancer therapies often struggle with specificity and can affect healthy cells, leading to adverse side effects. By focusing on non-conventional tumor antigens, OVACell aims to create a more targeted approach, enhancing the efficacy of the treatment while minimizing collateral damage to healthy tissues.

The technology leverages advanced cell engineering techniques to modify immune cells, enabling them to recognize and combat ovarian cancer cells more effectively. This approach not only has the potential to improve patient outcomes but also to reduce the overall burden of cancer treatment on healthcare systems.

The significance of OVACell lies in its potential to address a critical unmet need in oncology. Ovarian cancer often presents at advanced stages, and the available treatment options are limited. By developing a therapy that specifically targets the unique characteristics of ovarian tumors, ErVaccine Technologies aims to provide a novel solution that could change the prognosis for many patients.

In conclusion, the EIC Accelerator program serves as a vital mechanism for fostering innovation in Europe, particularly within the DeepTech sector. By providing financial support and strategic guidance, the program enables companies like ErVaccine Technologies to advance groundbreaking projects such as OVACell, ultimately contributing to the improvement of healthcare outcomes and the growth of the European economy.

2 The Funding Rounds

# ErVaccine Technologies: Funding and Financial Overview

ErVaccine Technologies, a French biotech company and spin-off from the Centre Léon Bérard-Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, has secured significant funding to advance its innovative therapeutic vaccines and cellular immunotherapies targeting "unconventional" tumor antigens derived from human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs).

EIC Accelerator Funding

ErVaccine Technologies was among the 47 European startups selected in the June 2023 EIC Accelerator call. This particular funding round distributed a total of €349 million to innovative companies across Europe, with France representing 25% of the selected companies. The EIC Accelerator program offers startups and SMEs grants of up to €2.5 million combined with equity investments through the EIC Fund.

The company was awarded funding through the blended finance option, which was the most common type (68%) in this particular funding round. Blended finance combines grants with direct equity investments, providing comprehensive support for bringing innovations to market.

Previous Funding Rounds

Prior to the EIC Accelerator funding, ErVaccine Technologies closed a €4.5 million ($4.8 million) seed round in early 2023. This funding included both dilutive and non-dilutive components, with key investors being:

• Seventure Partners: A venture capital firm specializing in life sciences
• Bpifrance: The French public investment bank, which provided funding as part of the Aide au Développement de l'Innovation (ADI) program

According to available data, this seed round represents the company's only formal funding round prior to the EIC Accelerator grant, with the total raised being approximately $4.73 million.

Funding Timeline

• January 2023: Closed €4.5 million ($4.8 million) seed round
• June 2023: Selected for the EIC Accelerator program in the June 2023 cut-off

Use of Funds

The seed funding was specifically dedicated to financing ErVaccine's development portfolio, which included nine projects at the time, with two in late pre-clinical development. The company stated that these funds would help prepare for the next stages of development, including the start of a clinical trial with their first vaccine candidate in 2023.

Future Financing Plans

As of early 2023, ErVaccine was preparing for a Series A funding round to support further development of its technology and the initiation of clinical trials. The company's CEO, Nathalie Donne, indicated that they were in discussions with several international investors specialized in life sciences for this next stage of financing, as well as with potential industrial partners.

Company Valuation and Exit Events

There is no publicly available information regarding ErVaccine Technologies' current valuation. Similarly, no information about potential exit events such as IPOs, buyouts, or acquisitions has been disclosed in the provided sources.

The company appears to be in the growth and development stage, focused on advancing its therapeutic cancer vaccine candidates toward clinical trials with the support of its investors and the EIC Accelerator program.

Sources

• EIC Accelerator winners and statistics June 2023
• ErVaccine raises €4.5M to start therapeutic cancer vaccine trial
• Ervaccine Technologies Company Information

3 The Press Releases

ErVaccine Technologies, a French biotech company, has been advancing significantly since receiving the EIC Accelerator funding. As a spin-off from the Centre Léon Bérard-Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, ErVaccine focuses on developing next-generation therapeutic vaccines and cellular immunotherapies. The company's innovative approach targets "unconventional" tumor antigens, particularly those derived from human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), which are remnants of ancient viral infections integrated into the human genome.

Key Developments

• Funding and Clinical Trials: ErVaccine closed a €4.5 million seed round with investors like Seventure and Bpifrance. This funding supported the development of its therapeutic vaccine technology, with plans to start clinical trials in 2023 for its first vaccine candidate targeting triple-negative breast cancer.
• Technology Advancements: The company's technology platform leverages HERVs, which are silent in normal cells but active in tumor cells, presenting antigens to the immune system. This approach holds potential for a universal therapeutic vaccine applicable to various cancers, especially those with low mutational burden where current immunotherapies are less effective.
• Partnerships and Team: Prof. Stéphane Depil serves as the founder and Executive Chairman, while Nathalie Donne is the CEO. Strategic partnerships include Seventure and Bpifrance, with discussions ongoing with international investors and potential industrial partners.

ErVaccine Technologies' Website and Social Media

There is no publicly available information on press releases directly from ErVaccine Technologies' website or social media accounts. The company's updates are primarily reported through external sources like press releases and industry news.

Conclusion

ErVaccine Technologies' progress since receiving the EIC Accelerator funding has been marked by significant advancements in its therapeutic vaccine technology and clinical trial preparations. The company's innovative approach to targeting HERVs presents a promising direction in cancer immunotherapy.

Sources:

• ErVaccine raises €4.5M to start therapeutic cancer vaccine trial
• ErVaccine closes a €4.5 million financing round and prepares to start a clinical trial with its first therapeutic cancer vaccine in 2023

4 The Technology Advancements

ErVaccine Technologies: Post-EIC Accelerator Progress and Capabilities

ErVaccine Technologies, a Lyon-based biotech spin-off from the Centre Léon Bérard-Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, specializes in therapeutic vaccines and cellular immunotherapies targeting human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) antigens. While the provided search results do not explicitly confirm receipt of EIC Accelerator funding for ErVaccine as of June 21, 2023, the company’s publicly reported progress includes advancements in preclinical development and financing as of early 2023.

Core Capabilities

• Platform Technology: Targets HERV-derived antigens expressed by cancer cells but silent in healthy tissues, aiming for universal applicability across multiple cancers.
• Pipeline: Includes nine projects, with two candidates in late preclinical stages as of January 2023. The lead candidate targets triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
• Cell Therapy Integration: Developing a combination approach pairing HERV-targeted vaccines with engineered T-cell therapies to enhance long-term tumor control.

Post-Financing Developments (as per latest available data)

• Seed Funding Utilization: The €4.5 million seed round closed in January 2023 supported preclinical work for TNBC and other indications. A follow-up financing round was planned but not yet documented in the available sources.
• Preclinical Validation: Published research demonstrates HERVs as biomarkers and immunotherapy targets in leukemia and solid tumors. No new peer-reviewed studies or patent filings are explicitly mentioned post-June 2023.
• Clinical Trial Preparedness: Planned initiation of Phase I trials for TNBC starting in 2023 (per earlier timelines), though results or updates on trial commencement remain unconfirmed here.

Market Demonstration Status

As of the latest available data, ErVaccine has not yet advanced candidates into clinical trials or commercial partnerships. However:

• Collaborative Ecosystem: Operates within France’s Lyon Biopôle cluster, leveraging regional expertise in oncology R&D.
• Regulatory Pathway: Positioned to align with France’s 2030 Health Innovation Plan, which prioritizes biomedical breakthroughs like therapeutic vaccines.

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Sources

ErVaccine closes €4.5M seed round [PDF] | Labiotech coverage | France's health innovation clusters

5 The Partnerships and Customers

ErVaccine Technologies: Recent Partnerships and Developments

ErVaccine Technologies, a French biotech company, has been actively engaging in partnerships and developments since its involvement with significant funding rounds and collaborations. Following its receipt of the EIC Accelerator funding in June 2023, ErVaccine has continued to advance its therapeutic cancer vaccine and cellular immunotherapy technologies, particularly targeting unconventional tumor antigens derived from human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs).

Partnerships and Collaborations

• Seventure and Bpifrance: ErVaccine closed a €4.5 million seed round with these investors, which included both dilutive and non-dilutive funds. This funding supported the development of its therapeutic vaccine portfolio and the preparation for clinical trials, including a first vaccine candidate in 2023.
• Servier Partnership: In October 2023, ErVaccine Technologies (now operating as ErVimmune) announced a sponsored research agreement with Servier. This collaboration aims to discover biomarkers of response to therapies under development by Servier, leveraging ErVimmune’s expertise in identifying unconventional tumor epitopes. The partnership focuses on modulating new cancer targets related to endogenous retroviruses to develop novel therapeutic approaches in cancer immunotherapy.

New Partners and Customers

While specific new customer names are not publicly disclosed, ErVaccine Technologies' partnership with Servier represents a significant collaboration with a major player in the oncology sector. This partnership highlights ErVimmune's growing network in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in advancing cancer treatments.

Nature of New Relationships

These partnerships are centered around advancing cancer immunotherapies by exploring new mechanisms and targets, particularly those related to HERVs. The collaboration with Servier emphasizes discovering biomarkers and novel therapeutic approaches, which can enhance the efficacy of cancer treatments.

Market Positioning and Technology Advancements

ErVaccine Technologies' partnerships will position the company as a leading developer of innovative therapeutic vaccines targeting HERVs. These collaborations will facilitate technology advancements by leveraging the expertise and resources of major pharmaceutical companies like Servier. This strategic positioning is expected to accelerate ErVaccine's scaling efforts, especially in bringing its first vaccine candidates to clinical trials and potentially expanding its portfolio across various cancer types.

Scaling and Growth

The funding from Seventure and Bpifrance, combined with the partnership with Servier, will enable ErVaccine Technologies to scale its operations effectively. It will allow the company to move forward with clinical trials and further develop its unique vaccine technology platform, potentially expanding into new cancer indications beyond its initial focus on triple-negative breast cancer.

Sources: - ErVaccine Closes a €4.5 Million Financing Round

• ErVimmune Partners with Servier
• ErVimmune Partners with Servier to Identify Regulatory Mechanisms
• ErVaccine Raises €4.5M for Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine Trial

6 The Hiring and Company Growth

ErVaccine Technologies: Team Dynamics and Growth Post-EIC Accelerator Funding Since securing EIC Accelerator funding in June 2023, ErVaccine Technologies (now rebranded as ErVimmune) has prioritized advancing its preclinical pipeline while forming strategic partnerships to accelerate development. While specific headcount figures remain undisclosed, the company operates as a preclinical-stage biotech embedded within Lyon’s Centre Léon Bérard (CLB) and Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon (CRCL), leveraging shared expertise in oncology and immunotherapy.

• Team Structure: Founded by Prof. Stéphane Depil, an onco-hematologist with 15+ years in pharmaceutical oncology development, the team includes specialists in bioinformatics, proteomics, and T-cell immunotherapy.
• Recent Growth: The company closed a €4.5M financing round in early 2023 to support clinical entry plans for its HERV-targeted vaccines. Its October 2023 collaboration with Servier to identify endogenous retrovirus biomarkers suggests expanded research capabilities through shared resources.
• Hiring Focus: Job postings are not publicly listed, but the emphasis on entering clinical trials by 2024 implies roles likely centered on regulatory affairs, clinical operations, and manufacturing.
• Management Stability: Depil remains executive chairman post-rebranding to ErVimmune. No leadership changes were reported following the Servier partnership or EIC funding milestone.

The integration of Servier’s oncology expertise positions ErVimmune to validate novel cancer vaccine targets at scale while potentially attracting additional talent for translational research efforts ahead of clinical trials.

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Sources

• ErVaccine closes a €4.5 million financing round
• ErVimmune Partners with Servier
• Company profile: ErVaccine Technologies

7 The Media Features and Publications

ErVaccine Technologies: Media Presence and Industry Engagement Post-EIC Accelerator Funding

Since securing EIC Accelerator funding in June 2023, ErVaccine Technologies S.A., a Lyon-based biotech specializing in next-generation cancer vaccines and T-cell therapies, has maintained a focused presence in industry communications while advancing its preclinical pipeline. Though direct media coverage post-funding is limited based on available sources, the company’s activities and recognition include:

• Media Features: A January 2023 press release highlighted a €4.5 million seed round led by Seventure Partners and Bpifrance, emphasizing preparations for clinical trials of its HERV-targeting vaccine candidate in triple-negative breast cancer.
• Publications: The Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon (CRCL) profiles ErVaccine as developing "modified T-lymphocyte therapies" targeting endogenous retroviruses for solid tumors.
• Podcasts/Interviews: No direct interviews or podcast appearances by ErVaccine’s team (e.g., CEO Nathalie Donne or founder Prof. Stéphane Depil) were identified post-2023. However, broader discussions on cancer vaccines—such as ASCO Daily News’ July 2024 podcast—highlight the growing interest in neoantigen and immune-modulatory vaccines, though not explicitly citing ErVaccine.
• Conference Participation: While specific 2023–2024 events are not detailed publicly, Vaccine Technology IX (June 2024) focused on nucleic acid-based vaccine innovation, aligning with ErVaccine’s mRNA/LNP platform interests but without confirmed participation.

The company continues to prioritize late preclinical development of its lead candidates while preparing for clinical trials anticipated to begin in 2023–2024. Its association with CRCL underscores ongoing academic-industry collaborations in oncology immunotherapy.

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Sources

• ErVaccine Closes €4.5 Million Financing Round
• CRCL Innovation Profile
• Seedtable Funding Overview
• MabDesign Membership Announcement

Forthcoming updates may provide additional details on trial timelines or partnership announcements beyond current public disclosures.