Argos Therapeutics

Argos Therapeutics is a publicly funded immuno-oncology company based in Durham, North Carolina that was founded in 1997 by Ralph M. Steinman. It is focused on the development and commercialization of individualized immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases using its Arcelis technology platform. The technology creates individualized immunotherapies that harness and reprogram dendritic cells to target antigens specific to each person's disease.

Argos' lead product candidate is AGS-003, a combination of Rocapuldencel-T and sunitinib. It is a therapy targeted at treating RCC (renal cell carcinoma) and other cancers. A Phase 3 clinical trial for RCC was initiated in 2013 with Argos also supporting an investor-initiated Phase 2 trials in patients with early stage RCC and non-small cell lunch cancer. It also plans to support other trials for muscle invasive bladder cancer. In April 2018, Argos had announced that it would terminate its Phase 3 trial for AGS-003 on RCC after interim results indicated poor prospects of success.

The company has another product candidate in its pipeline, AGS-004, a treatment for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Investigator-initiated Phase 2 clinical trials are ongoing for the eradication of HIV in adults. Argos also has plans to explore the use of AGS-004 monotherapy to provide long-term control of HIV viral load in otherwise immunologically healthy patient and in pediatric patients infected with HIV, who have otherwise healthy immune systems.

In December 2018, Argos Therapeutics filed for bankruptcy protection with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. NASDAQ had also delisted the company's shares earlier in April 2018.