Basel, Switzerland – 9 May 2023, Alentis Therapeutics (“Alentis”), the Claudin-1 company, today announced it has been selected to receive a CHF 2.4M grant from the Swiss Accelerator project to further the development of ALE.C04 for Claudin-1 (CLDN1) positive cancers.

Of the original 752 applications, the Innosuisse Innovation Council selected 53 projects to receive funding across multiple industries with significant innovation potential. The total funding granted amounts to CHF 112M.

“We thank the Innosuisse Innovation Council for recognising Alentis’ work in oncology, and congratulate our fellow winners,” said Dr. Roberto Iacone, CEO of Alentis.

About Innosuisse

Innosuisse is the Swiss Innovation Agency. Its mission is to promote science-based innovation in the interest of the economy and society in Switzerland. The core of Innosuisse funding is the support of innovation projects: innovative organizations such as companies and start-ups develop new services and products together with universities and research institutions. Please visit: www.innosuisse.ch

About ALE.C04

ALE.C04 is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody developed to target a unique CLDN1 epitope exposed in tumors. The antibody exerts its anti-tumor activity by mediating direct tumor cell killing via the effector function and by remodeling the extracellular matrix (ECM) thus allowing immune cells to reach the tumor. A Phase 1/2 first-in-human clinical trial of ALE.C04 is planned to start during the second half of 2023.

About Alentis Therapeutics

Alentis Therapeutics, the Claudin-1 (CLDN1) company, is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that focuses on developing breakthrough treatments for CLDN1+ tumors and organ fibrosis. Alentis is pioneering a novel approach to modify and reverse the course of disease progression targeting CLDN1, a previously unexploited target that plays a key role in the pathology of tumors with immune evasive properties and fibrotic diseases across multiple organs.

Alentis is the only company developing potential treatments for solid cancers and fibrosis targeting CLDN1. The company was founded in 2019 based on ground-breaking research in the laboratory of Prof. Thomas Baumert MD at the University of Strasbourg and the French National Institute of Health (Inserm). Alentis is headquartered in Basel’s pharma-biotech hub in Switzerland with an R&D subsidiary in Strasbourg, France and clinical operations in the US.