Loading organizations...
Key people at Immunethep.
Immunethep, based in Cantanhede, Portugal, develops preventive and therapeutic multivalent immunotherapies against bacterial infections using its proprietary PIT-ID technology platform, which targets a shared virulence mechanism to boost host immune response. The company's pipeline includes PNV, a vaccine addressing five critical bacteria responsible for 80% of infections and ready for clinical trials, alongside UNImAb monoclonal antibodies and SILBA, a needle-free COVID-19 vaccine effective against variants. Immunethep operates with a team of 11 professionals, focusing on addressing antimicrobial resistance and infectious diseases. Early backing for the biotech startup came from Venture Catalysts. The organization was founded in 2013 as a spin-off from the University of Porto by Pedro Madureira and Bruno Santos. Its business model centers on biotech startup funded through investment rounds, awards, prizes, and partnerships with institutions and pharma companies.
Key people at Immunethep.
Immunethep is a biotechnology startup developing preventive and therapeutic immunotherapies targeting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through multivalent vaccines and antibodies against major bacterial pathogens.[2][1] Founded as a University of Porto spin-off, it focuses on potentiating the host's natural immune response to reduce infections from bacteria like *S. aureus*, *S. pneumoniae*, *K. pneumoniae*, *E. coli*, and *S. agalactiae*, serving global healthcare needs to lower antibiotic reliance and mortality from life-threatening infections.[4][3] Its lead product, the Paragon Novel Vaccine (PNV), is the world's first vaccine preventing infections from these five critical bacteria simultaneously; the company has a 13-person team, six granted international patents, and is advancing toward human trials and regulatory approval while building its UNImAb therapeutic pipeline.[1][4]
Immunethep emerged from over 30 years of research at the University of Porto's Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), where founder Pedro Madureira, Ph.D. (now CSO), discovered a shared bacterial virulence mechanism enabling immune evasion in life-threatening infections.[3][5] Established in October 2013 as a spin-off with support from Venture Catalysts—a firm providing management, financial, and business development for startups—the company set up operations in 2015 at Biocant Park in Cantanhede, Portugal, an ideal biotech hub.[1][4][5] Early traction came from Madureira's foundational work on bacterial immune evasion, leading to a proprietary platform; the team has grown to 13, with plans to double for clinical advancement.[1][4]
Immunethep rides the global AMR crisis—a WHO-designated top-10 threat—where superbugs like ESKAPE pathogens kill millions annually amid rising antibiotic failure.[2][4] Its timing aligns with surging demand for non-antibiotic alternatives, fueled by regulatory incentives (e.g., FDA/EMA priority review for AMR therapies) and market forces like post-pandemic infection awareness and SDG#3 health goals.[2] By targeting five critical bacteria in one vaccine, it influences the biotech ecosystem through tech transfer from academia, fostering Portugal's Biocant hub as an AMR innovation center and enabling pharma licensing to accelerate global deployment.[1][4][5]
Immunethep's path forward hinges on PNV's human trials, regulatory milestones, and team expansion to secure venture funding or big-pharma deals, potentially valuing the platform at hundreds of millions via licensing.[4] Trends like AI-accelerated drug discovery and AMR policy tailwinds will amplify its trajectory, evolving it from spin-off to market leader in multivalent immunotherapies. As antibiotic pipelines dry up, Immunethep stands to save millions, transforming bacterial threats into a safer tomorrow.[2][4]
