Wisconsin spin-out vaccinates its future with $8m

Madison Vaccines, a biopharmaceutical spin-out from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has closed an $8m series A ahead of planned clinical trials.

The round was led by Venture Investors, and joined by venture firm Venture Management, the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s tech transfer unit the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF).

Madison Vaccines is developing two promising prostate cancer vaccines, MVI-816 and MVI-118. Proceeds from the fund will be to further develop the two DNA vaccines and support them through their respective phase 2 and phase 1 clinical trials.

Douglas McNeel, scientific co-founder of Madison Vaccines, said: “The Series A financing of MVI is important because it enables us to advance our work with MVI-816 beyond our basic research and previously completed Phase 1 studies, through proof-of-concept in early stage patients.”

With regards to MVI-118, McNeel added: “MVI is now well-positioned to support completion of both preclinical and Phase 1 safety studies which are critical to enable future efficacy studies of MVI-118 as monotherapy, and in combination with standard ADT therapies, in early metastatic disease.”