If you are a cell therapy developer dealing with low efficacy in solid tumors — this project developed a genetic rewiring system that prevents T cell exhaustion. This allows for the treatment of breast and gastric carcinomas that are resistant to 2nd and 3rd generation therapies.
Next-Generation CAR T-Cell Therapy for Solid Tumor Treatment
Imagine training a soldier to fight a fire, but the fire is so intense the soldier gets exhausted and gives up. This project creates a 'smart switch' inside the soldier that only activates when they enter the fire zone, turning off the exhaustion signal. This allows the cells to keep fighting until the tumor is gone.
What needed solving
CAR T-cell therapies fail in solid tumors because the cells become 'exhausted' and stop working. Current modifications are either too permanent or not specific enough to the tumor environment.
What was built
A genetic rewiring system using artificial miRNAs and a high-performance peptide-based gene delivery platform for CAR T cells.
Who needs this
Who can put this to work
If you are a biotech company dealing with expensive and limited gene delivery methods — this project developed a high-performance peptide-based delivery platform. It offers unlimited loading capacity and enables economical large scale GMP production.
If you are a CDMO dealing with the high cost and complexity of CAR T manufacturing — this project developed a quality-by-design manufacturing process under GMP-like conditions. This improves the scalability and cost of therapeutic cell products.
Quick answers
How does this impact the cost of therapy?
The project utilizes a peptide-based gene delivery platform designed for economical large scale GMP production, which aims to improve the overall cost of these therapies.
Can this be produced at an industrial scale?
Yes, the project specifically focuses on a delivery platform with unlimited loading capacity to enable economical large scale GMP production.
What is the IP status of the technology?
The project utilizes proprietary technology from TargetGene for the precise insertion of artificial miRNAs under endogenous promoters.
What is the timeline for clinical translation?
The project runs from 2023-04-01 to 2027-06-30, with current work focusing on preclinical testing in humanized animal models to accelerate the pathway to clinics.
How is the safety of the rewiring ensured?
The proprietary technology enables specific replacement of the Driver gene without risking off-target mutations, and tests are conducted to ensure no adverse events occur.
Who built it
The consortium is well-balanced for translation, consisting of 6 partners across 5 countries. With an industry ratio of 33% (including 2 SMEs), the project bridges the gap between academic research (3 universities, 1 research institute) and commercial application, specifically targeting GMP-like manufacturing for clinical readiness.
Contact STEMMATTERS, BIOTECNOLOGIA E MEDICIINA REGENERATIVA SA in Portugal
Talk to the team behind this work.
Contact us to explore licensing opportunities for the peptide-based delivery platform.