immatics discovers and develops tumor-associated peptides (TUMAPs) for the immunotherapy of cancer. On the basis of our proprietary drug discovery technologies we identify HLA-binding TUMAPs with highest sensitivity directly from primary human tumor tissue samples.

From thousands of identified TUMAPs the most suitable ones are selected and combined to a single multi-peptide product to form a therapeutic cancer vaccine. The goal is to provoke a number of specific T-cell responses which finally result in the destruction of tumor cells presenting the applied TUMAPs.

The drug discovery technology itself can be applied to most types of cancer and this has enabled immatics to create a strong clinical and preclinical pipeline in a very short time.

From the first steps of TUMAP discovery to the beginning of clinical testing (Phase I) immatics needs 24 months or less. Our most advanced product, IMA901, has entered a world-wide phase III trial in renal cell cancer in 2011. The second product, IMA910, completed a large Phase II trial in colo-rectal cancer in 2011 and a third product, IMA950, entered two phase I studies in brain cancer in 2010/2011. Further product candidates are currently in pre-clinical development. The proof-of-concept for this development process has been established and immatics expects to be able to benefit from this with all other upcoming product candidates.