Universal immunotherapeutic targeting of solid tumors

Immunotherapy, where the immune system is used to fight cancer, has received massive amounts of interest and attention the recent few years. The main objective of immunotherapy is to engage T-cells to kill cancer cells, and this can be achieved by several different strategies. So far, several immunotherapeutic strategies have shown great benefit for cancer patients, yet the class of biological drugs termed check-point inhibitors is the only one with commercial success. In this project we have developed a new biologic drug designed to elicit an intra-tumoral immune response that targets and destroys tumor cells. The mechanism of action is based on targeting a potent immune modulating unit specifically to the tumor. This results in local activation of T-cells inside the tumor compared to e.g. check-point inhibitors that act systemically. In this way we avoid systemic activation of the immune system that would otherwise give rise to adverse events such as autoimmunity. Our therapy will be distributed in an off-the-shelf manner and has the potential to treat a wide range of cancer types. We have so far demonstrated highly promising effects in animal models, where large tumors have been eradicated from mice in the matter of days. This project aims at developing our drug towards the final pre-clinical studies required before testing the concept in human patients. If successful, this project will serve as basis for a new biotech company in Norway.

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The aim of this study is to develop and optimize a new compound for universal immunotherapeutic treatment of solid tumors. The ability of the immune system to fight cancer has been clearly demonstrated in recent years, highlighted by the massive clinical and commercial success of the immune checkpoint inhibitors. One of the key advantages offered by these drugs is that they have the potential to treat several cancer types, they are supplied in an off-the-shelf manner, and do not rely on customization for each patient, in contrast to personalized immunotherapies such as adoptive T-cell therapy or dendritic cell (DC) vaccines. On the downside, only 10-30% of patients respond adequately, and checkpoint inhibitors have a challenging safety profile. Yet, the forecasted revenues of these compounds are in the multi-billion dollar range. We have developed a new universal therapeutic concept that also targets a wide range of tumors and are supplied in an off-the-shelf manner, but the mechanism of action is radically different. Whereas the checkpoint inhibitors require an existing immune response in the patient, our technology induces an in situ anti-tumor immune response through targeted delivery of a highly potent pro-inflammatory unit. Our existing data shows complete eradication of large tumors in mice within a few days without any signs of toxicity. In this project we will perform pre-clinical development and optimization of our lead compound and aim to be ready for GLP-certified pre-clinical studies at the project end. The field of immunotherapy is rapidly evolving and development pace is essential. Given the significant market potential and massive interest in the field of immunotherapy, we aim to seek partnership with an established company in the field at an early stage and co-develop our compound towards market entry.