Q&A With Ammplimmune

Amplimmune’s mission is to become the preeminent leader in modulating the immune system. We are working to develop proprietary and novel therapies that can either activate or attenuate the body’s immune function.

Profile By: Lauren Nelson and Richard Morgan

How will your product change the way cancer and autoimmune disorders are treated? 

Amplimmune is generating broad spectrum, first-in-class biologics for (i) cancer and infectious diseases for our AMP-224 program and (ii) autoimmunity and transplantation for our AMP-110 program. Our plan is to develop products to serve unmet medical needs with therapeutic profiles that include improved efficacy, safety, and convenience of use.

What’s next for your company?

Amplimmune’s next steps include specific development activities associated with toxicology studies, GMP manufacturing, andclinical trials. We are also taking a proactive business development strategy to secure partners to help support further product development. Finally, Amplimmune is active in securing additional financing for the company.

If this technology belonged to a founder, when did you realize that you had something that you could take to market?

Amplimmune’s founders at JHU had made some pivotal scientific discoveries related to costimulatory and coinhibitory molecules and their applications in cancer and autoimmune diseases. Based on their findings and observations, it was felt that such molecules could be further developed for treating human disease.

If you in-licensed the technology, how did you go about selecting the IP and working with the University? 

The technology was selected based on the scientific work the founders had been conducting in their laboratories. Licenses were then negotiated to the patents covering such work with the University’s technology transfer group.

How did you meet, choose, and assemble your team of founders? 

The team of six founders identified key investors interested in the technology and a management team was subsequently recruited to advance the programs and to build Amplimmune.

What advice do you have for Hopkins entrepreneurs wishing to create their own spin-outs?

My advice for JHU entrepreneurs would be as follows: (i) ensure that all your inventions are appropriately covered by patent applications, (ii) conduct key proof-of-concept studies that demonstrate the true value of the invention, and (iii) develop a business plan outlining timelines and resources required to achieve key performance based preclinical and clinical milestones.