Transforming the understanding and treatment of neurodegeneration and aging

Brain key

Developing novel therapies that target the immune system in order to boost natural immune repair mechanisms

About ImmunoBrain Checkpoint

ImmunoBrain Checkpoint (IBC) is a clinical stage biotechnology company transforming the fight against neurodegeneration and aging by targeting the immune system, restoring brain immune communications and boosting natural repair mechanisms. IBC’s lead program is a proprietary antibody targeting the inhibitory immune checkpoint pathway, PD-1/PD-L1, to treat Alzheimer's disease. IBC's novel approach for the treatment of neurodegeneration is based on years of innovative, cutting-edge scientific discoveries made in the lab of Professor Michal Schwartz at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel.

Scientific Platform

peripheral immune

The peripheral immune system plays a key role in maintaining the healthy brain, and helps mitigate neurological diseases

Immune dysfunction

Age-related Immune dysfunction is a major contributor to the onset and progression of neurodegenerative disorders

immune system

Boosting the immune system can restore the brain-immune network needed for neuroprotection and brain function

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Scientific Platform

IBC's Alzheimer's Disease Therapy

A novel, proprietary antibody targeting PD-L1 to treat Alzheimer's disease and dementia

immune system

Blocks the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitory immune pathway

Facilitates mobilizing

Facilitates mobilization of macrophages to the brain

Macrophages

Macrophages remove the neurotoxic form of misfolded proteins

brain restoration

Activates multiple processes of brain restoration

Rescues synapses

Rescues synapses and reduces inflammation

Restores brain function

Restores brain function

Immune dysfunction

Overcomes disease heterogeneity

High immunological safety

Advantageous immunological safety profile compared with clinically approved PD-L1 antibodies

Lead Program

Literature & Media

Molecular Psychiatry Cell biology
Nature Medicine
Nature Medicine
Play

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Brain key

Partnerships

Lonza
Alzheimer's Association
SBI-Holdings
Yeda
Tel-Aviv University
Israel Innovation Authority

Team

Prof. Michal Schwartz
Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer

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A world-renowned expert in Neuroimmunology who pioneered the field of nervous system repair, protection, and maintenance by the immune system. Schwartz is a professor of Neuroimmunology at the Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS).

She was the first to suggest, against the prevailing dogma at the time, that circulating immune cells are essential for supporting life-long functional brain plasticity in health and disease, and should be harnessed to help fighting brain pathologies.

These results led to the paradigm-shifting approach of developing an immunotherapy to combat neurodegenerative diseases. Her scientific publications have been extremely influential, as reflected by their high citation score. Schwartz has received numerous national and international awards, and served as president of the International Society of Neuroimmunology (2016-2018).

Prof. Michal Schwartz

Eti Yoles, Ph.D.

Chief Operating Officer

Eti Yoles, Ph.D. Linkedin

Chief Operating Officer

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More than 20 years of high-level experience in managing biotechnology research and development, specifically in the field of neuro-immunology. Prior to joining ImmunoBrain Checkpoint, Eti served as CSO of Immunobrain Therapies, and prior to that, as managing director of NeuroQuest and as VP of Product R&D at Proneuron Biotechnologies. Dr. Yoles holds a B.Sc. in biology, M.Sc. in physiology, and Ph.D. in neurobiology from Bar Ilan University.

Robert L. Glanzman, MD

Chief Medical Officer

Robert L. Glanzman, MD Linkedin

Chief Medical Officer

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With over 20 years of experience in neuroscience drug development, Dr. Glanzman is a board-certified neurologist and Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. Prior to joining industry in 1999, Dr. Glanzman held an appointment as Associate Clinical Professor of Neurology at Michigan State University. Since joining industry, Dr. Glanzman has held increasingly important leadership roles at Pfizer, Novartis and Roche, where he was responsible for the successful Phase 3 development of ocrelizumab (Ocrevus®) for both relapsing and primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis. Prior to joining IBC, Dr. Glanzman held CMO positions at GeNeuro S.A. and Clene Nanomedicine inc.

Mr. Nathan Hevrony

Co-founder and Executive Chairman

Mr. Nathan Hevrony Linkedin

Co-founder and Executive Chairman

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Investor with a large portfolio of holdings with 35 years of experience in private equity and merchant banking, and 22 years of experience financing and developing life science technologies. Chairman of the Board and the controlling shareholder of Babcock Power. Board member and investor in various private companies. Philanthropist.

Sharona Raveh, Ph.D.

VP Manufacturing and Product Development

Sharona Raveh, Ph.D. Linkedin

VP Manufacturing and Product Development

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Over 20 years of experience in global biopharmaceutical companies, running operations and R&D teams, leading CMC and CMO activities from early phase development through commercial production. Most recently, Sharona served as Senior Director, Head of Bio-Analytical Development, CMC Biosimilars for Teva Pharmaceuticals. Prior to that Sharona served as Director of Analytical Development and CMC project manager in BTG, Ferring. Sharona holds an M.SC. from Ben-Gurion University and Ph.D from PARIS VI University and Pasteur Institute in protein engineering, structure and function.

Kuti Baruch, Ph.D.

VP Research and Development

Kuti Baruch, Ph.D. Linkedin

VP Research and Development

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Over 10 years of biomedical research experience in the fields of neuroimmunology and therapeutic approaches to neurodegenerative conditions. During his Ph.D. studies at Prof. Schwartz’s laboratory, his research focused on brain-immune system crosstalk in neurodegenerative diseases, and targeting the peripheral immune system as a novel therapeutic approach for Alzheimer’s disease. Kuti holds a M.Sc. in Medical Science from Tel-Aviv University, and a Ph.D. in Neurobiology from the Weizmann Institute of Science.

Dalia Bracha (RN, BSN, MPA)

Head of Clinical Management and Operations

Dalia Bracha (RN, BSN, MPA) Linkedin

Head of Clinical Management and Operations

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An experienced clinical Project Manager with more than 20 years of demonstrated management of global clinical studies (phase I-IV) across the US, EU and Israel, having worked across large global pharmaceuticals and emerging biotech companies.

Ronit Epstein-Monin, M. Pharm, MPH

Head of Regulatory Affairs

Ronit Epstein-Monin, M. Pharm, MPH

Head of Regulatory Affairs

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Regulatory affairs professional with over 20 years of hands-on experience in the development of innovative medicinal products. She has in-depth understanding of regulatory requirements for the development of drug-device combination products, drugs and biologics from early phase development through to phase 3 trials and subsequent NDA and MA. Ronit has worked in large biotech companies with wealth of experience in communications with the FDA and the EMA.

Alex Kertser, Ph.D.

Pipeline and Discovery Project Leader

Alex Kertser, Ph.D. Linkedin

Pipeline and Discovery Project Leader

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Neuroimmunologist with over 10 years of experience in pre-clinical project management, assay development and in-depth understanding of experimental animal models.
Dr. Kertser holds a B.Sc in biology and chemistry from the Hebrew University, and both M.Sc and Ph.D in Neuroimmunology from the Weizmann institute of Science.

Shai Braiman, M.Sc.

R&D scientist

Shai Braiman, M.Sc. Linkedin

R&D scientist

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Over 8 years of experience biomedical research. Prior to IBC, Shai worked in Sheba Medical Center in the field of induced pluripotent stem cell (IPS). Shai holds M.Sc. in Molecular Immunology from Bar-Ilan university, focusing on immune cells signalling. Currently Shai is also an M.B.A student in the open university.

Roee Hevrony

Chief Financial Officer and Head of Business Development

Roee Hevrony Linkedin

Chief Financial Officer and Head of Business Development

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Prior to joining IBC in 2015, Roee worked for Babcock Power, Inc. in its nuclear power generation unit as a business controller and started his career as an investment banker with Merrill Lynch. Roee holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Columbia University (magna cum laude) and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Tommaso Croese, MD

Medical Director

Tommaso Croese, MD

Medical Director

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Neurologist with a special focus on the contribution of immune cells in the development and progression of neurological disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s Disease, and over 10 years of experience in preclinical models. Tommaso received his medical degree from the University of Genoa and completed his residency in neurology at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan. He is currently pursuing a PhD in neuroimmunology at the Weizmann Institute of Science.

Advisory Board

Paul Aisen, MD

Paul Aisen, MD

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Professor of Neurology; Director, Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute, University of Southern California.

Moses Chao, Ph.D

Moses Chao, Ph.D

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Professor, New York University School of Medicine. His laboratory defined the genes encoding the nerve growth factor receptor and his research interests are in defining mechanisms used by trophic factors to change synaptic plasticity.

Michael Davidson, MD

Michael Davidson, MD

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Professor of Psychiatry at the Sackler School of Medicine Tel Aviv and Mount Sinai School of Medicine NYC . Currently Executive President of the Alzheimer Center in Tel Aviv, an organization providing inpatient and community  care to several hundred demented elderly.

George Garibaldi, MD

George Garibaldi, MD

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Dr. Garibaldi has more than 25 years of global pharmaceutical and academic experience in early to late-stage drug development. Previously Vice President of Neuroscience and Product Development at Hoffmann-La Roche AG.

Lon Schneider, MD

Lon Schneider, MD

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Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Director of the California Alzheimer’s Disease Center, the Department of Psychiatry Geriatric Studies Center and co-director of the clinical core of the University of Southern California Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (National Institutes of Health).

Philip Scheltens, MD

Philip Scheltens, MD

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Since 2000, Dr Scheltens is Professor of Cognitive Neurology and Director of the Alzheimer Center at the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam.

Dr. Jan Egebjerg, Ph.D

Dr. Jan Egebjerg, Ph.D

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SVP Grants and Prizes Lundbeckfoundation. Previously Senior Director of Neurodegeneration at Janssen since 2018. Previously he was Divisional Director for Neurodegeneration at H. Lundbeck A/S and ass. professor at Dept for Molecular Biology, University of Aarhus.

Board of Directors

Mr. Ehud Barak

Mr. Ehud Barak

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Mr. David Ben-Ami

Mr. David Ben-Ami

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Over 25 years of experience in the health sector. His activities span from management to business development, corporate strategy, and entrepreneurship in the life sciences industry. Mr. Ben-Ami was the Founder and Executive Chairman of NASDAQ-listed company Macrocure Ltd. from 2008 to 2016.

Mr. Nathan Hevrony

Mr. Nathan Hevrony

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Dr. Avraham Kadar

Dr. Avraham Kadar

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Mr. Jay Kranzler

Mr. Jay Kranzler

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Founder, CEO, Board Member, and Advisor to leading life science companies for over 30 years. Most recently served as  for Pfizer.

Pipeline

Pipeline table

News

17/05/2023

Happy to announce we dosed our first two patients in the Phase 1b First In Human clinical trial investigating IBC's lead program, IBC-Ab002 for patients with early Alzheimer's disease.

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08/05/2023

For its 25th anniversary Nature Neuroscience set down for a conversation with Professor Schwartz, as a leader in her field and winner of the 2023 Israel Prize in Life Sciences.

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02/11/2022

Neuron dedicated an issue to the very important topic of brain-immune system relationships, and features a review article by Professor Michal Schwartz, who pioneered this field.

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01/06/2022

As featured in a new Nature publication, a shift in understanding of the role of immunity in brain function has been led by our co-founder and CSO, Prof. Michal Schwartz

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27/08/2021

ImmunoBrain Checkpoint Awarded $5 Million US NIA Grant for Phase 1b Alzheimer’s Disease Proof-of-Mechanism Study of Anti-PD-L1 IBC-Ab002  

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24/08/2021

Michal Schwartz, IBC's Chief Scientific Officer and her colleagues at Weizmann Institute published a review article on Nature Immunology on the importance of immune cells for brain surveillance and protection

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12/10/2020

Another research group, Xing et al. publishes a paper substantiating IBC’s results and mechanism of action in the most recent Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.

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10/09/2020

Michal Schwartz, IBC’s Chief Scientific Officer, co-authored a paper in Cell Press Trends in Immunology looking into non-neuronal brain cells and the implications for #Alzheimersdisease therapy.

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26/08/2020

We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded a $1,000,000 grant from the Alzheimer's Association® under the 2020 Part the Cloud-Bill Gates Partnership Grant Program.

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17/08/2020

Earlier this year IBC's Chief Scientific Officer, Prof. Michal Schwartz, co-authored and published a review paper in the Journal of Immunology giving an overview of her 20 years of research.

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03/08/2020

Last week we attended the AAIC Virtual Conference 2020 and presented data on our innovative anti-PD-L1 antibody, IBC-Ab002.

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27/07/2020

Today marks the start of #AAIC20, the virtual Alzheimer’s Association International Conference. IBC’s Chief Scientific Officer, Prof. Michal Schwartz, will be presenting today at 11:30am CDT.

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