ErVimmune

ErVimmune is a preclinical biotechnology company developing therapeutic cancer vaccines and cell therapies targeting tumors that are unresponsive to current treatments. Founded in 2019 by Professor Stéphane Depil, an onco-hematologist, the Lyon-based firm is a spin-off from academic research conducted at the Centre Léon Bérard and the Cancer Research Center of Lyon. Depil's background as a researcher and onco-hematologist provides the foundational expertise for the company's scientific direction.

The company's core technology focuses on a novel class of tumor antigens derived from human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs). These HERV-derived antigens, sometimes referred to as 'dark antigens', are remnants of ancient viral DNA in the human genome that are typically silenced in healthy tissue but can be reactivated and expressed in cancer cells. The immune system recognizes these as foreign, 'virus-like' proteins, making them prime targets for immunotherapy. ErVimmune utilizes a proprietary platform, which incorporates data science and AI, to identify and validate these shared tumor epitopes.

ErVimmune's business model centers on developing ready-to-use, or 'off-the-shelf', therapies rather than personalized treatments. By selecting antigens that are shared across different patients and tumor types, the company aims to create broadly applicable vaccines. Its lead candidate, ErVac01, is a vaccine containing a collection of HERV-derived epitopes designed to be effective for a large percentage of the global population based on HLA allele coverage. The initial focus for ErVac01 is on 'cold tumors'—cancers that respond poorly to existing checkpoint inhibitors—such as triple-negative breast cancer and ovarian cancer. The company also has a T-cell-based therapy program in the discovery stage.

The company's operations are financed through a combination of venture capital and non-dilutive funding. In January 2026, ErVimmune announced the first closing of a €17 million Series A round with participation from existing investor Seventure Partners and new investor SPRIM Global Investments. This funding is intended to advance ErVac01 into its first-in-human clinical trial to establish its safety and immunogenicity. Since its inception, ErVimmune has also received financial support from Bpifrance, the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), and the European Innovation Council, among others.

Keywords: cancer vaccines, immunotherapy, T-cell therapy, cold tumors, human endogenous retroviruses, HERV, tumor antigens, off-the-shelf therapy, preclinical biotechnology, ErVac01, triple-negative breast cancer, ovarian cancer, oncology, drug discovery, dark antigens, shared antigens, Centre Léon Bérard, Stéphane Depil, immuno-oncology, therapeutic vaccines