Pioneering Microbial Immunotherapies
Prokarium is pioneering the field of microbial immunotherapy. Our pipeline is designed to unlock the next level of immuno-oncology by building on the most recent advances in cancer immunology. Prokarium’s lead program is focused on transforming the treatment paradigm in bladder cancer by orchestrating immune-driven, long-lasting antitumor effects.
Technology
In this adaption of our platform technology, we leverage proprietary genetic engineering interventions to build on the natural ability of our bacterial strains to seek out and colonise solid tumours. We have developed attenuated strains capable of targeting tumours without causing pathology in normal tissues. These strains are also capable of delivering specific immunostimulatory cargo aimed at activating the patient’s immune system to destroy tumours.
Team
- Team
- Board of Directors
- Advisors
Therapeutic
Prophylactic
Pipeline
Indication
Program
Drug Discovery
Preclinical
Early Clinical Development
Late Clinical Development
NMIBC

NMIBC Therapeutic
Bladder cancer represents 5% of all new cancer cases in the US and accounts for 550,000 new cases yearly worldwide. The clinical staging is determined by the depth of invasion into the bladder wall and more than 70% of cases are diagnosed at an early-stage, also known as Non Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC). Despite the early diagnosis, the only approved therapies are Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG), which often faces shortages, and chemotherapy, both delivered intravescically. Because of its high incidence and the low number of treatment options, a huge unmet medical need remains in NMIBC.
S. Typhi
Solid Tumours

Undisclosed
Prokarium is investigating the use of engineered bacteria as immunotherapy to treat solid tumours. Onconella has the ability to sense and kill tumour cells and, in addition, to boost the natural anti-tumoral activity of the immune system.
Undisclosed
Enteric Fever

S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi A Vaccine
FIH Phase 1 Readout
1H2021
Enteric fever, a preventable illness caused by Salmonella enterica serovars Typhi and Paratyphi A, is the most common bacterial bloodstream infection in South Asia. It has been estimated to cause >15 million illnesses and nearly 153,000 deaths worldwide annually.
Entervax™, a novel, oral bivalent vaccine against enteric fever, is based on the Vaxonella® platform and is the combination of our proprietary strain ZH9 (Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi ZH9), plus a novel strain modified to express antigens specific to S. Paratyphi A.
Entervax
Pipeline
Program
Phase
NMIBC
S. Typhi

NMIBC Therapeutic
Bladder cancer represents 5% of all new cancer cases in the US and accounts for 550,000 new cases yearly worldwide. The clinical staging is determined by the depth of invasion into the bladder wall and more than 70% of cases are diagnosed at an early-stage, also known as Non Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC). Despite the early diagnosis, the only approved therapies are Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG), which often faces shortages, and chemotherapy, both delivered intravescically. Because of its high incidence and the low number of treatment options, a huge unmet medical need remains in NMIBC.
Preclinical
Therapeutic
Solid Tumours
Undisclosed

Undisclosed
Prokarium is investigating the use of engineered bacteria as immunotherapy to treat solid tumours. Onconella has the ability to sense and kill tumour cells and, in addition, to boost the natural anti-tumoral activity of the immune system.
Drug Discovery
Enteric Fever
Entervax

S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi A Vaccine
FIH Phase 1
1Q2020
Enteric fever, a preventable illness caused by Salmonella enterica serovars Typhi and Paratyphi A, is the most common bacterial bloodstream infection in South Asia. It has been estimated to cause >15 million illnesses and nearly 153,000 deaths worldwide annually.
Entervax™, a novel, oral bivalent vaccine against enteric fever, is based on the Vaxonella® platform and is the combination of our proprietary strain ZH9 (Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi ZH9), plus a novel strain modified to express antigens specific to S. Paratyphi A.
Early Clinical Development
Prophylactic
Covid-19
SARS-CoV-2
Drug Discovery
News
- January 26, 2022·
Prokarium Expands R&D Capabilities with London Biofoundry to Deepen Microbial Immunotherapy Pipeline
- November 11, 2021·
Prokarium Shares Preclinical Proof-of-Concept Data on Its Microbial Immunotherapy Bladder Cancer Program at SITC 2021
- November 2, 2021·
Prokarium Promotes Livija Deban to Chief Scientific Officer to Drive Pipeline Expansion in Cancer Immunotherapy
- October 12, 2021·
Prokarium and Wacker Biotech Sign Manufacturing Contract for Prokarium’s Microbial Immunotherapy for Bladder Cancer Patients
- October 5, 2021·
Prokarium Appoints Industry Veteran Thomas Eldered as Chairman of the Board
- July 27, 2021·
Prokarium Appoints Kristen Albright as Chief Executive Officer
- March 26, 2021·
Prokarium Gains the Cover of the International Journal of Molecular Science with the Latest Entervax Publication
- October 27, 2020·
Prokarium Closes $21M Series B Financing Round and Strengthens Board
- July 14, 2020·
Prokarium obtains Notice of Allowance for US patent covering the modification of an attenuated strain of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi to develop a vaccine against enteric fever
- April 28, 2020·
Prokarium Signs an Exclusive Option Agreement with the Lausanne University Hospital (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois – CHUV) for the Treatment of Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC)
- January 6, 2020·
Prokarium appoints New Advisors to Increase Oncology Expertise
- December 20, 2019·
Prokarium appoints Peter McGowan as Chief Financial Officer
- November 26, 2019·
Prokarium announces MHRA acceptance to run a Phase I trial with its lead vaccine candidate Entervax™
- October 8, 2019·
Prokarium Secures £4.6M from Wellcome to Fund the Clinical Development of its Lead Vaccine Programme
- January 10, 2019·
Prokarium starts 2019 with Move to the London Bioscience Innovation Centre
- September 1, 2018·
Prokarium expands its team to develop oncology programmes, appointing Livija Deban as Vice President Immunology and Oncology, and Kristen Albright as Vice President BD and Translational Research
- February 26, 2018·
Prokarium secures $10 million investment from Saudi, Swedish and Korean investors for clinical development of revolutionary thermostable vaccines
- July 25, 2016·
Prokarium Receives £2M in Government Contracts to Develop New Vaccines Against Emerging Diseases and Bioterrorist Threats
- July 15, 2016·
Prokarium awards the Newton Fund for the development of an oral, thermostable enteric fever vaccine: saving lives and supporting tourism in Mexico
Careers
Situated within one of the largest hubs of life science and biotechnology companies in the UK, Prokarium offers a multitude of career opportunities within the microbial immunotherapy space. We are working hard to bring novel therapies for bladder cancer and other solid tumours into the clinic to improve cancer patients’ lives.
Join our team to unlock the next level of immuno-oncology!