What Geneos Therapeutics does

Geneos Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company developing DNA-based personalized immunotherapies for cancer (PICs). Founded in 2019 as a spinout of Inovio Pharmaceuticals, the company is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, with a lean operating team (1-10 employees) and pre-revenue status. Its pipeline targets cancers with high unmet need that respond poorly to checkpoint inhibitors alone, with the lead program GNOS-PV02 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and a second program GNOS-PV01 in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), supported by Phase 1b/2a GT-30 data published in Nature Medicine showing 30.6% objective response rate and 19.9-month median overall survival in second-line advanced HCC.

The company's core technology is the proprietary GT-EPIC™ (Exquisitely Personalized Immunotherapies for Cancer) platform, which uses synthetic DNA plasmids encoding up to 40-80+ patient-specific tumor neoantigens—industry-leading carrying capacity—combined with a plasmid-encoded IL-12 (pIL-12) adjuvant and the CELLECTRA® in vivo intradermal electroporation device (both exclusively licensed from Inovio). The platform differentiates from mRNA-based personalized vaccines through DNA stability at refrigerated temperatures (2-8°C) and a 6-8-week biopsy-to-treatment turnaround, with a stated path to under 3-4 weeks at commercialization. Manufacturing is supported by a long-term supply agreement with VGXI, Inc. (a GeneOne Life Science CDMO).

The business model is built around eventual commercialization of personalized therapeutic cancer vaccines (one-time per-patient product) and technology licensing, with go-to-market executed through clinical trials at major academic cancer centers (Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel, WashU Siteman, Mount Sinai, University of Auckland) and through medical education channels including peer-reviewed publications, AACR/ASCO/SITC presentations, and earned media. The company is planning a registrational Phase 2b trial in HCC adjuvant and has raised approximately $54.5 million in cumulative Series A funding across 2019-2023 from Santé Ventures, Korea Investment Partners, Flerie Invest, Shanghai Healthcare Capital, and 3B Future Health Fund.

Name

Geneos Therapeutics

Legal name

Geneos Therapeutics, Inc.

Website

https://geneostx.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Geneos Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company developing DNA-based personalized neoantigen cancer immunotherapies using its proprietary GT-EPIC™ platform. Lead programs target hepatocellular carcinoma (GNOS-PV02) and glioblastoma (GNOS-PV01) with patient-specific DNA vaccines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Personalized Cancer Immunotherapy

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Personalized Therapeutic Design (neoantigen vaccines, individualized cell/gene therapies) (HLAAANAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Oncology Gene Therapies (incl. oncolytic vectors & gene-modified approaches) (HLAAACAF)

Keywords

• Personalized cancer immunotherapy
• DNA-based cancer vaccines
• Neoantigen-targeted therapy
• Hepatocellular carcinoma treatment
• Glioblastoma vaccine therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Plymouth Meeting

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Personalized Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines: Pre-revenue clinical stage company developing DNA-based personalized immunotherapies for cancer. Revenue will be generated through commercialization of PTCVs (personalized therapeutic cancer vaccines) for cancer treatment upon regulatory approval.
2. Technology Licensing: Company has exclusively licensed the GT-EPIC platform and related technologies from Inovio Pharmaceuticals for personalized cancer immunotherapy development.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Geneos Therapeutics develops DNA-based personalized immunotherapies for cancer (PICs) using its proprietary GT-EPIC™ platform. Each patient-specific therapy is a custom DNA plasmid encoding up to 40 of the patient's unique tumor neoantigens, administered intradermally with a plasmid-encoded IL-12 (pIL-12) adjuvant via the CELLECTRA® electroporation device. Lead clinical programs include GNOS-PV02 for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and GNOS-PV01 for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), with a 6–8 week biopsy-to-treatment manufacturing turnaround.

Product overview

Geneos Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company developing DNA-based personalized immunotherapies for cancer (PICs) using its proprietary GT-EPIC™ platform. The core offering consists of personalized neoantigen DNA vaccines (GNOS-PV02 for hepatocellular carcinoma, GNOS-PV01 for glioblastoma) that include up to 40 patient-specific tumor neoantigens, combined with plasmid-encoded IL-12 (pIL-12) adjuvant and delivered via CELLECTRA® electroporation device. The GT-EPIC platform enables rapid design and manufacturing of patient-specific therapies, with clinical programs including GT-30 (Phase 1b/2a in HCC), GT-31 (Phase 2b in HCC adjuvant), and GT-20 (Phase I in GBM).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GT-EPIC™: Proprietary DNA-based neoantigen-targeting platform for developing personalized immunotherapies for cancer

Products and services

• GT-EPIC™ Platform Proprietary DNA-based platform for developing personalized immunotherapies for cancer (PICs) that targets up to 40+ neoantigens per patient-specific formulation with rapid 6-8 week biopsy-to-treatment turnaround.
• GNOS-PV02 (Hepatocellular Carcinoma Vaccine) Personalized neoantigen DNA vaccine — a tumor-specific DNA plasmid product designed and manufactured for each patient based on unique tumor mutations (neoantigens) identified by sequencing; lead indication is advanced hepatocellular carcinoma in combination with pIL-12 and pembrolizumab.
• GNOS-PV01 (Glioblastoma Vaccine) Personalized neoantigen-targeted immunotherapy for glioblastoma, delivered intramuscularly in combination with IL-12 adjuvant for newly diagnosed GBM patients following surgery and radiation.
• GT-30 Clinical Program (GNOS-PV02 + pIL-12 + Pembrolizumab in HCC) Phase 1b/2a clinical program evaluating GNOS-PV02 in combination with pembrolizumab and pIL-12 for treatment of advanced HCC patients who have progressed on first-line TKI therapy. 36-patient trial achieved 30.6% ORR with 3 complete responses and median OS of 19.9 months.
• GT-31 Clinical Program (Adjuvant HCC) Planned Phase 2b randomized, controlled clinical trial of GNOS-PV02 as adjuvant immunotherapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
• GT-20 Clinical Program (GNOS-PV01 in GBM) Investigator-sponsored Phase I clinical trial in collaboration with Washington University treating newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme patients with GNOS-PV01 personalized vaccine. Two-thirds of patients showed no cancer progression at six months.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30.6% objective response rate (11/36 patients) vs 16.9% historical control for pembrolizumab monotherapy in 2L advanced HCC
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• VGXI, Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 16 March 2021Expanded clinical manufacturing supply agreement to support ongoing GT-30 Phase Ib/IIa clinical trial for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. VGXI continues to provide accelerated manufacturing process for patient-specific plasmid DNA products.
• VGXI, Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 22 July 2019Texas-based GMP plasmid DNA contract manufacturer (CDMO) established long-term master supply agreement with Geneos for production of GT-EPIC-based personalized cancer therapeutics. VGXI provides rapid turnaround plasmid manufacturing services optimized for personalized therapy approach with the ability to complete GMP manufacturing in less than 2 weeks from transformation to patient dose - a fraction of standard industry timelines. VGXI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GeneOne Life Science.
• Inovio PharmaceuticalscoreTechnology or Integration · 21 February 2019Geneos was created as a spinout of Inovio Pharmaceuticals and has exclusively licensed the DNA-based immunotherapy platform (GT-EPIC) for personalized cancer immunotherapy development. Inovio retains rights to population-based (non-personalized) cancer immunotherapies and infectious disease vaccines. Inovio participated as investor in Series A financing.
• The Wistar InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2019Advisory board collaboration with Dr. David B. Weiner (W. W. Smith Endowed Chair in Cancer Research) serving as Chair of the Advisory Board. Dr. Chi Van Dang (Scientific Director, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research) also serves on advisory board. Geneos collaborated with Wistar on preclinical proof-of-concept animal model data published in Cancer Immunology Research.
• Washington University School of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical trial collaboration for GT-20 Phase I investigator-sponsored trial treating patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) at Siteman Cancer Center. WashU led by Dr. Tanner Johanns, MD, PhD. WashU computational biologists developed neoantigen identification algorithm used in the vaccine platform.
• Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical trial investigator site for GT-30 hepatocellular carcinoma study led by Dr. Mark Yarchoan, Assistant Professor of Oncology. Dr. Yarchoan serves as principal investigator for the personalized neoantigen vaccine trial in advanced HCC.
• Mount Sinai Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical trial site for GT-30 and GT-31 programs with involvement of Dr. Thomas Marron (Assistant Professor, Hematology-Oncology) and Dr. Myron Schwartz (Professor, Surgery/Surgical Oncology). Mount Sinai medical advisors provide guidance on hepatocellular carcinoma clinical development.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Gritstone bio: Gritstone bio developed personalized neoantigen cancer vaccines (GRT-C901/GRT-R902) using a similar patient-specific vaccine approach combined with checkpoint inhibitors, with Phase 2/3 development in colorectal cancer and other solid tumors. Most directly comparable peer in personalized neoantigen vaccine mechanism, target indications, and clinical stage.
• Nouscom: Nouscom is a clinical-stage biotech developing individualized neoantigen cancer vaccines using viral vector delivery (prime/boost platform) targeting patient-specific tumor mutations. Comparable as a clinical-stage personalized cancer vaccine developer with similar patient-specific manufacturing workflow and trial-stage positioning.

Broad incumbents

• BioNTech: BioNTech's BNT122 (autogene cevumeran) is an individualized mRNA neoantigen cancer vaccine in Phase 2 trials with Roche/Genentech across multiple tumor types, including pancreatic cancer. Largest and most advanced peer in personalized cancer vaccines with materially greater resources and global commercial reach.
• Moderna: Moderna's mRNA-4157 (V940) is an individualized neoantigen mRNA vaccine in Phase 3 trials in melanoma with Merck. Although broader in scope (mRNA infectious disease, multiple oncology programs), its personalized cancer vaccine program directly competes with Geneos in mechanism and target patient population.
• CureVac: CureVac develops mRNA-based cancer immunotherapies including personalized neoantigen vaccine candidates (CVGBM, CV8102) in solid tumors. Comparable as a clinical-stage personalized cancer vaccine developer, though broader across mRNA modalities with greater infrastructure.
• Agenus: Agenus has a personalized neoantigen vaccine program (AutoSynVax) and a broader immuno-oncology pipeline including botensilimab/balstilimab. Relevant as a clinical-stage competitor in personalized cancer vaccines, though broader portfolio reduces direct comparability.

Emerging players

• Elicio Therapeutics: Elicio Therapeutics develops cancer immunotherapies using a lymph-node targeting amphiphile platform that enhances delivery of personalized and off-the-shelf neoantigen vaccines. Adjacent personalized cancer vaccine approach with overlap in mechanism and target indications (solid tumors).
• Advaxis: Advaxis develops personalized Listeria-based immunotherapies (ADXS-NEO) targeting patient-specific tumor neoantigens, with clinical development in solid tumors including HPV-associated cancers. Mechanism differs (bacterial vector vs DNA plasmid) but targeting identical patient-specific neoantigen space.

Others

• Personalis: Personalis provides genomic sequencing and ImmunoID NeXT platform supporting neoantigen identification used by personalized cancer vaccine developers. Functions as enabling technology partner rather than direct competitor, but relevant as a peer in the personalized oncology ecosystem.
• Inovio Pharmaceuticals: Inovio is the licensor of GT-EPIC, pIL-12, and CELLECTRA to Geneos, and operates in adjacent DNA-based immunotherapy development (population-based cancer and infectious disease). Functions as a strategic platform supplier and potential acquirer rather than direct personalized cancer vaccine competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/geneos-therapeutics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors7 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Geneos Therapeutics