| Category | LifeSciences and BioTechnology |
| Keywords | Immunotherapy; T cells, CAR T cells, NK cells , CAR-NK cells |
Background
- Emerging T cell and NK cell-based immunotherapies for cancer encounter limited success rates and high recurrence, primarily attributed to tumor-induced immune dysfunction, depending on the type of cancer and the generated environment.
- The inflammatory tumor micro- and macro- environments impair T and NK cell functions.
- There is an urgent need to protect these immune cells from the generated host’s harmful environment and to enable their optimal anti-tumor function.
Our Innovation
- We introduce the Cell-Induced Protection Tool (CIPT), a proprietary method using unique protective molecules to shield T and NK cells from harmful tumor environments.
- CIPT modifies cells for immunotherapy, ensuring resistance to immunosuppression in a clinically approved, straightforward process.
- A single modification safeguards effector cells across various immunotherapies, including TILs, engineered TCR, primary/off-the-shelf NK cells, CAR-T, and CAR-NK cells.
Opportunity
- Counteract immunosuppression of adoptively transferred cells without a vast array of negative side effects.
- Focus on the adoptively transferred cells instead of the multifactorial immunosuppressive environment.
- Versatile integration of the protecting molecule to most/all existing and future vectors.
- Broad utilization for various treatments utilizing both T and NK cells.
- Potential impact of this concept for CAR therapy.
- Novel approach based on a profound understanding of the mechanisms which cause an immune system to decrease activity as result of chronic inflammatory conditions caused by a variety of tumors
