Innate Pharma S.A. is a biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class immunotherapy drugs for cancer and inflammatory diseases.

The Company specializes in the development of new monoclonal antibodies targeting receptors and pathways controlling the activation of innate immunity cells. The mechanisms controlling these cells were described at the end of the 90’s, notably by the teams of the scientists who founded Innate Pharma.

On the basis of this science, Innate Pharma develops drug candidates with immuno-stimulating properties in cancer and with immuno-blocking properties in inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, many of the ligands to the innate immunity receptors are expressed on tumor cells, opening the way to the development of directly cytotoxic antibodies.

Its most advanced drug-candidates are licensed to major biopharmaceutical groups. IPH2102, currently in Phase I trial in cancer, is licensed to Bristol-Myers Squibb, and two monoclonal antibody programs, developed in inflammation, are licensed to Novo-Nordisk A/S. 

Innate Pharma’s key expertise is in immunopharmacology and antibody technology. The Company has a large panel of molecular and cellular assays and in vivo models for assessing the pharmacodynamics, the pharmacotoxicology and efficacy of drug candidates. In addition, Innate Pharma has access to a very large set of unique research tools in cellular immunology through its worldwide network of scientific collaborations.

Incorporated in 1999 and listed on NYSE-Euronext in Paris in 2006, Innate Pharma is based in Marseilles, France, and had 81 employees as at September 30, 2011. Novo Nordisk A/S, the French Sovereign Fund (“FSI”) and Alta Partners are its major shareholders.