Cancer Therapy Pioneer Joins Infinitopes to Advance Vaccine

OXFORD, England & BOSTON – May 12, 2026 – Infinitopes, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, has appointed immuno-oncology pioneer Dr. Jo Brewer as its new Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), a strategic move signaling the company's transition from promising research into a critical clinical and commercial phase. The appointment comes as Infinitopes’ lead candidate, a therapeutic vaccine for oesophageal cancer, enters a pivotal first-in-human clinical trial.

Dr. Brewer, who will also serve as interim Chief Operating Officer, is a recognised industry leader whose career is defined by successfully guiding complex immunotherapies from the laboratory to regulatory approval. Her arrival at the Oxford-based company is a significant endorsement of its science and a clear indicator of its ambition to commercialize its novel cancer treatments.

A Pioneer for a Pivotal Moment

Dr. Brewer's track record is formidable. As a founding scientist and former CSO at Adaptimmune, she was instrumental in the development and commercialization of Tecelra®, the first-ever engineered TCR-T cell therapy approved for solid tumours. Her experience in navigating the intricate path from scientific concept to a marketable, life-changing therapy is precisely what Infinitopes requires as it advances its own pipeline.

Her move to the executive team follows a period as a non-executive director, giving her deep insight into the company's potential. "This is a really exciting moment in Infinitopes’ innovation journey, where cutting-edge science transitions from lab into the clinical realm," Dr. Brewer commented on her new role. "I have always been passionate about shepherding science from 'bench-to-bedside’ and am excited by the ITOP1 product development programme and its potential to revolutionise first line treatment for those living with cancer."

This sentiment underscores the significance of the company's current stage. Infinitopes is no longer just a research entity; it is now a clinical development company with its sights set on addressing a major unmet medical need.

Targeting a Deadly Disease

The focus of Infinitopes' immediate efforts is oesophageal cancer, a particularly aggressive malignancy with grim survival statistics. It is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. For patients diagnosed with surgically resectable oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC), the most common form in the Western world, the outlook remains challenging. Even after undergoing extensive pre-operative chemotherapy and major surgery, nearly 50% of patients experience a recurrence of their cancer, which is often fatal.

This is the critical gap that Infinitopes aims to fill with its lead candidate, ITOP1. Unlike preventative vaccines for infectious diseases, ITOP1 is a therapeutic vaccine designed to be administered to patients already diagnosed with cancer. It is an "off-the-shelf" product that leverages the company's proprietary vector technology to induce a powerful and precise T-cell response against tumour cells. The goal is not to treat the primary tumour, but to train the patient's own immune system to hunt down and eliminate any residual cancer cells left behind after surgery, thereby preventing the cancer from returning.

The VISTA Trial and a Path to Market

The viability of this approach is now being tested in the VISTA trial, a Phase I/IIa clinical study that began late last year. The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial is the gold standard for clinical research and will enrol 60 patients across multiple UK National Health Service university cancer centres. The trial will primarily assess the safety and tolerability of ITOP1, while also looking for early signals of its effectiveness in preventing cancer recurrence.

Infinitopes’ path to the clinic has been accelerated by significant regulatory support. In 2022, the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granted ITOP1 an 'Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway' (ILAP) innovation passport. This designation is reserved for promising medicines that target serious, life-threatening conditions and aims to streamline the regulatory process, potentially shortening the time to market.

This regulatory confidence is matched by strong backing from the UK's innovation ecosystem, including two maximum-size, non-dilutive awards from Innovate UK, which have helped fund the platform's development and clinical trial preparations.

A Strengthened Leadership for Commercial Ascent

Dr. Brewer's appointment is part of a broader strategic leadership alignment designed to prepare Infinitopes for its next chapter of growth. Seasoned biotech executive Dan Menichella has stepped in as interim CEO, while co-founding CEO Dr. Jonathan Kwok transitions to the new role of President & Chief Medical Officer. This allows Dr. Kwok to focus his expertise on the company's overarching strategy and the clinical execution of the VISTA trial.

"Not only does Jo have hands-on experience successfully transitioning a candidate from concept to market, but she’s also adept at steering growth in scaling organisations in a sustainable way," said Dan Menichella. "We’re delighted to have her join us on a permanent basis at this point in our innovation journey."

The company's journey is fueled by substantial financial backing. An extended seed financing round recently brought the total capital raised to $35.1 million. The funding, co-led by Octopus Ventures and new investor Amplify Bio, includes a diverse and influential syndicate of venture capital firms and cancer-focused charities, including Cancer Research Horizons, Manta Ray Ventures, and Macmillan Cancer Support. This robust financial position provides the necessary runway to see the VISTA trial through and plan for future expansion.

With a validated scientific platform, a promising lead candidate in a crucial clinical trial, strong regulatory and financial support, and now a leadership team fortified with proven commercialization expertise, Infinitopes stands at a key inflection point. The results of the VISTA trial will be the next major milestone, one that holds the potential to not only define the future of the company but also offer a new ray of hope for oesophageal cancer patients.