Kahimmune Therapeutics, a biotechnology company specialising in immuno-oncology, has entered an exclusive licensing agreement with Gustave Roussy and Société d’Accélération du Transfert de Technologies (SATT) Paris-Saclay.
Kahimmune was created in late 2025, building on immunology discoveries related to the dark genome, which has lately been seeing more study. The licensing agreement grants Kahimmune exclusive license to the technology behind its Kahinomics platform, as well as the neoantigens – known as Kahigens – produced by the platform. Kahinomics allows tumour-specific antigens to be discovered within the dark genome.
The company aims to develop shared messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) cancer vaccines using these neoantigens, with the goal of improving both survival and quality of life for cancer patients. They will be optimised by being administered in combination with cancer treatments.
The first vaccine candidate created by Kahimmune will be designed to tackle colorectal and pancreatic cancers.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer, as well as the second highest cause of cancer-related deaths, globally. Pancreatic cancer, meanwhile, is the 13th most diagnosed cancer and the sixth highest cause of cancer-related deaths.
“Kahimmune targets cancers that are unfortunately extremely common, aggressive and fast growing. The exclusive transfer agreement with Gustave Roussy and SATT Paris-Saclay enables us to enter this market with solid R&D assets and a significant competitive advantage,” said Philippe Villain-Guillot, founder and CEO of Kahimmune.
Kenza Belhaj, director of Life Sciences Investments at SATT Paris-Saclay, added: “This immuno-oncology innovation project [addresses] a major clinical need… the creation of the Kahimmune start-up marks a crucial step in furthering the development of this innovation and making it available to patients.”
