Company Profile
Philogen is a Swiss-Italian integrated biotechnology company founded in 1996, with the mission to develop innovative biopharmaceuticals for the treatment of angiogenesis-related disorders. Angiogenesis, i.e. the formation of new blood vessels, is a characteristic feature of many severe pathologies such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and age-related macular degeneration.
The company has been a pioneer in the isolation, engineering and clinical development of lead products capable of targeting angiogenesis in-vivo and has been the first in the world to demonstrate that human monoclonal antibodies, specific for a marker of angiogenesis, can efficiently and selectively target the tumor neo-vasculature both in animal models and in cancer patients.
Once a suitable angiogenesis targeting antibody has been validated, it is typically “armed” with a cytokine to form an “immunocytokine”. The cytokine is chosen depending on the nature of the disease. For example, pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF, IL-2 or IL-12 can be used in oncology, while anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 or can be used to treat inflammatory conditions.
At present, Philogen has various immunocytokines in clinical development for the treatment of cancer and of chronic disease. Two products (Daromun and Fibromun) have started pivotal clinical trials in the field of oncology.
Our Zurich-based daughter company Philochem isolates the most promising lead candidates, while in Siena (Italy) the pharmaceuticals are optimized, produced according to GMP standards and investigated in clinical trials.
Philogen generates revenue from a diversified range of activities, has signed agreements with major pharmaceutical companies and owns a diversified portfolio of international patents