T cell supercharging for solid tumors - CRISPR meets Cell therapy A new biotech OverT Bio is coming out of stealth with $16 million from The round was co-led by ARTIS Ventures and Wing VC, with participation from Fusion Fund, OMX Ventures, Alexandria Venture Investments, Gaingels, Civilization Ventures, Hawktail, and Cancer Research Institute (CRI). Here are 5 things investors should know about it. 1. Addressing the Solid Tumor Challenge: The holy grail of cell therapy has been conquering solid tumors. Unlike blood cancers, these tumors present a tougher target due to their complex microenvironment. OverT's focus is significant because current success stories are rare. There are currently 1,111 trials in Phase 1, 511 in phase 2 and 12 in Phase 3 for solid tumors according to ClinicalTrials.gov. Only one cell therapy has been approved for a solid tumor cancer: Iovance’s tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte-based therapy #Amtagvi, which won FDA approval in February for advanced melanoma. 2. Supercharging T Cells with CRISPR Screens: This is where OverT's technology gets exciting. CRISPR screening allows them to identify genes that, when overexpressed, enhance T cell function against tumors. Think of it as giving T cells superpowers! This approach holds promise for creating more potent CAR-T therapies. 3. Not the Only Player in the Arena: Competition is fierce in the CAR-T space. While OverT's approach is promising, it's important to be aware of other players using similar CRISPR activation screens Sidi Chen team and Alex Marson team. 4. Diversifying the Arsenal: Gamma Delta T Cells: OverT is exploring using gamma delta T cells in their therapy. These unique immune cells are activation-independent, potentially offering an advantage over traditional T cells. This adds another layer of potential differentiation for OverT. Gamma delta T cells make up only a small percentage of circulating T cells (around 5%), but they offer some advantages like the ability to recognize tumor-associated antigens without prior MHC presentation. 5. Aggressive Timeline for Clinical Trials: OverT aiming for a mid-2025 clinical trial candidate is ambitious but demonstrates their commitment to rapid development. However, it's crucial to remember that the road from preclinical studies to market is long and fraught with risk. What do you think about this new approach to cell therapy? Spencer Knight Cookie Yu, PhD Nimisha Gupta, Ph.D. Share this news with your investor buddies. They’ll thank you later. 🗣️ #biotech #investment #investor #vc #drug #discovery #healthcare #market #business #crispr #celltherapy _________________________________________________________________________________ Biotech investor or innovator? We assist investors unlock potential by assisting with due diligence and companies refine strategies for success and get bigger exposure to investors. Send me a DM and let´s connect Follow me, hit the 🔔 Adrian Rubstein
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𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗢𝗜 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 💥 GEDi Cube and Renovaro Biosciences Inc. announce an exclusive letter of intent to merge, fostering a new era in cancer diagnosis and treatment. 🌟 GEDi Cube's advanced AI technology has already validated early diagnoses for lung cancer and holds promise for 12 additional cancers, including pancreatic and breast cancer. Their collaboration with Renovaro Biosciences Inc.'s solid tumor therapies aims for a multiplier effect, improving treatment outcomes and discovering innovative therapies. 🧪 Renovaro, meaning 'renewal' in Latin, embodies their mission. Their pioneering cell, gene, and immunotherapy techniques aim to reinvigorate the body's natural tumor-fighting mechanisms. A potential merger with GEDi Cube can amplify trial efficacy and accelerate the discovery of novel treatment approaches. 🌍 Renovaro Biosciences Inc.'s promising results, especially in pancreatic cancer, pave the way for human Phase I/IIa studies starting by mid-2024. The potential merger's multiplier effect could focus trials on responsive cancers, expand key marker databases, and unlock new generations of treatments. 🔓 Dr. Anahid Jewett, a leading cancer immunotherapy researcher, praises the potential of the intent to merge: "𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘦." 🚀 #precisionmedicine #AI #mergers https://lnkd.in/efEufBCa
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🎉 Exciting times in oncology! I'm always on the lookout for new, exciting approaches to overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment using immune cell therapies. I was delighted to see OverT Bio's launch with a $16M investment led by ARTIS Ventures and Wing Venture Capital, with the goal of revolutionizing solid cancer-targeting cell therapies. The team, led by New York University's Dr. Neville Sanjana and Dr. Mat Legut, utilizes a novel pooled genome-scale over-expression approach to identify positive regulators of T cell function and enhance the effectiveness of therapies in overcoming tumor-induced immune suppression. At xcellbio, our focus on improving potency in cell therapies through modulating #immunometabolism via the manufacturing process aligns well with the unmet needs in tumor targeting and potency at the tumor site. OverT Bio’s focus in advancing this field through novel strategies of improving T cell function in the TME resonates strongly with our own efforts as we press ahead for better solutions to treat solid tumors. https://lnkd.in/gtAnaVV5 #CellTherapy #Oncology #Innovation #tumormicroenvironment
OverT Bio Raises $16 Million, Tapping Innovative Reprogramming of Immune Cells to Deliver Next-Generation Therapies
businesswire.com
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Precision Medicine Partner Oncology at Roche | Patient Journey Partner Lung Cancer | Tumor Agnostics And Rare Cancers
🔬 Cutting-Edge Advancements in Precision Oncology: Shaping the Future of Cancer Care 🔬 The field of precision oncology is experiencing remarkable advancements, leveraging the latest technologies and scientific discoveries to revolutionize cancer diagnosis and treatment. Here are some of the most recent and impactful breakthroughs that are transforming patient care: 🔬 Multi-Omics Approaches: The integration of multi-omics data (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) is providing a holistic view of cancer biology. Recent studies have demonstrated the power of multi-omics in uncovering novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. For instance, the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) project has revealed new insights into the mutational processes and structural variations across different cancer types, guiding the development of more effective personalized therapies. 🧬 Single-Cell Sequencing: Single-cell sequencing technology is allowing for unprecedented resolution in understanding tumor heterogeneity and the tumor microenvironment. Recent advancements have enabled the profiling of thousands of individual cells from a single tumor sample, uncovering rare subpopulations of cells that contribute to treatment resistance and disease progression. This technology is also being used to map the immune landscape of tumors, identifying potential targets for immunotherapy. 💊 CRISPR-Based Therapies: The application of CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology in oncology is opening new avenues for targeted cancer treatment. Recent clinical trials have shown promising results in using CRISPR to engineer T cells for adoptive cell therapy, targeting specific cancer antigens with high precision. Moreover, CRISPR screens are being utilized to identify synthetic lethal interactions, revealing novel vulnerabilities in cancer cells that can be exploited therapeutically. 🧪 Liquid Biopsy Advancements: The next generation of liquid biopsy technologies is improving the sensitivity and specificity of cancer detection and monitoring. Novel assays are now capable of detecting epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation patterns, in addition to genetic alterations. These advancements are enhancing early cancer detection and enabling real-time monitoring of treatment response and minimal residual disease (MRD). 📉 Spatial Transcriptomics: It's providing spatially resolved gene expression data, offering insights into the spatial organization of tumors and their microenvironment. This technology is helping to identify spatial heterogeneity within tumors, revealing distinct cellular niches that influence treatment response. Recent studies have utilized spatial transcriptomics to map immune cell infiltration and stromal interactions, guiding the development of spatially targeted therapies. #PrecisionOncology #CancerResearch #GenomicMedicine #Oncology #HealthcareInnovation #SingleCellSequencing #CRISPR #LiquidBiopsy #SpatialTranscriptomics
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New investment opportunity on Capital Cell: Flomics launches a 600K euro round (98% already committed) to advance their groundbreaking solution for early cancer detection through a liquid biopsy test. 🔍 High Precision: Flomics leverages RNA, artificial intelligence, and next-generation sequencing, offering an advanced and cost-effective solution, achieving over 90% accuracy in colon cancer detection 🔬 Extensive Validation: Flomics is applying its solution to a validation study involving 5 different types of cancer and approximately 1300 samples. 💰 Recent Sector Successes: The acquisition of Grail for $8 billion, the merger of Thrive with Exact Sciences for $2 billion, and the integration of Foundation Medicine into Roche for $2.4 billion underscore the high potential value of cancer detection technology. Led by João Curado and André Guedes, Flomics has the potential to be a game-changer in the liquid biopsy market, which was valued at $4.7 billion in 2022 and is projected to exceed $27 billion by 2035. https://lnkd.in/dfMYhv5B
Flomics
https://capitalcell.es
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#Review Recent Advances of Organ-on-a-Chip in Cancer Modeling Research by Xingxing Liu, Qiuping Su, Xiaoyu Zhang, Wenjian Yang, Junhua Ning, Kangle Jia, Jinlan Xin, Huanling Li, Longfei Yu, Yuheng Liao and Diming Zhang https://lnkd.in/e2dEUkCP MDPI; 之江实验室 Zhejiang Lab Guangdong Academy of Sciences #organ #chip #tumor #microenvironment #microfluidics #cancer #modeling #openaccess #Abstract Although many studies have focused on oncology and therapeutics in cancer, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Due to the unclear molecular mechanism and complex in vivo microenvironment of tumors, it is challenging to reveal the nature of cancer and develop effective therapeutics. Therefore, the development of new methods to explore the role of heterogeneous TME in individual patients’ cancer drug response is urgently needed and critical for the effective therapeutic management of cancer. The organ-on-chip (OoC) platform, which integrates the technology of 3D cell culture, tissue engineering, and microfluidics, is emerging as a new method to simulate the critical structures of the in vivo tumor microenvironment and functional characteristics. It overcomes the failure of traditional 2D/3D cell culture models and preclinical animal models to completely replicate the complex TME of human tumors. As a brand-new technology, OoC is of great significance for the realization of personalized treatment and the development of new drugs. This review discusses the recent advances of OoC in cancer biology studies. It focuses on the design principles of OoC devices and associated applications in cancer modeling. The challenges for the future development of this field are also summarized in this review. This review displays the broad applications of OoC technique and has reference value for oncology development.
Recent Advances of Organ-on-a-Chip in Cancer Modeling Research
mdpi.com
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World Cancer Day, initiated on February 4, 2000, at the World Summit Against Cancer in Paris, stands as a global call to action. It seeks to prevent millions of deaths annually by raising awareness about cancer and urging governments and individuals worldwide to combat this relentless disease. Let's watch the top trends in #cancer treatment according to StartUs Insights. Immunotherapy revolutionizes cancer treatment by harnessing the body's immune system to recognize and combat cancer cells. Startups like Ankyra Therapeutics and OXVax Ltd are pioneering breakthroughs, enhancing immune responses and developing off-the-shelf cancer vaccines. Cytotherapy, including CAR-T cell therapy and NK cell therapy, emerges as a less toxic and more effective approach. Catamaran Bio and Matterhorn Biosciences exemplify innovative technologies, engineering NK cells and utilizing small molecules for #celltherapy. Overcoming the limitations of traditional chemotherapy, startups like Imescia and Cairn Therapeutics bring forth novel solutions. Imescia's hydrophilic polymer technology targets tumors specifically, reducing side effects, while Cairn Therapeutics focuses on Cell-selective Cytotoxics (CSS) for selective cytotoxicity to cancer cells. Gene therapy, facilitated by gene editing technologies, sees remarkable advancements. CorrectSequence Therapeutics pioneers base editing therapy, ensuring precise base substitutions, while ExoVectory uses exosome-loading proteins for efficient gene delivery in cancer treatments. Targeted therapies focus on specific molecules or pathways in cancer cells, minimizing side effects. BAKX Therapeutics delves into targeted apoptosis, controlling apoptosis for improved efficacy, and TargTex employs AI-based platforms to study and develop small molecules targeting brain cancer receptors. Precision oncology leverages AI, #machinelearning, and #bigdata for personalized cancer treatments. Onc.AI offers a physician-centric precision oncology care management platform, while OncoPrecision utilizes patient micro avatars (PMAs) for personalized drug trials. Advanced imaging techniques and nanotechnology redefine radiation therapy, reducing complications and the risk of second malignancies. Vaso Dynamics introduces topical vasoconstrictor applications, preventing radiation-induced side effects, and ZTI BIOSCIENCES provides radio-sensitive magnetic #drug carriers for radiation and electromagnetic therapy. Nanotechnology enhances the bioavailability of cancer drugs, utilizing nanoparticle encapsulation. LiberaBio focuses on MAB discovery, delivering antibodies to previously undruggable targets, while Nanorobotics pioneers light-activated nanomachines for targeted drug delivery.
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𝐔𝐍𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐎𝐅 𝐍𝐄𝐎𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐆𝐄𝐍-𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐂𝐑-𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐓 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐘: 𝐍𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐒 In the evolving landscape of cancer treatment, the quest for highly personalized and effective therapies has led to the emergence of neoantigen-targeted T cell receptor-engineered T cell (TCR-T) immunotherapy as a forefront strategy. Neoantigens, the novel epitopes arising from tumor-specific mutations, present a unique target for immunotherapy due to their tumor-restricted expression and the potential for inducing robust immune responses. This cutting-edge approach leverages the exquisite specificity of TCRs to recognize and target these neoantigens, heralding a new era in the battle against cancer. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑩𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝑻𝑪𝑹 𝑬𝒏𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 At the heart of this innovative therapy lies the engineering of T cells to express TCRs that are specifically designed to recognize neoantigens presented by tumor cells. This process involves the identification of neoantigens through advanced sequencing and bioinformatics analyses, followed by the generation of TCRs that can specifically bind to these neoantigens. The engineered TCR-T cells are then expanded ex vivo and infused back into the patient, where they seek out and destroy tumor cells presenting the targeted neoantigens. This strategy not only promises enhanced specificity but also minimizes off-target effects and immune-related adverse events, a significant advancement over traditional cancer therapies. 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝑻𝑪𝑹-𝑻 𝑰𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒚 Despite its promising potential, neoantigen-targeted TCR-T therapy faces several challenges, including the identification and validation of neoantigens, the engineering of high-affinity TCRs, and overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. To address these challenges, researchers are employing cutting-edge technologies such as next-generation sequencing, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, and advanced computational algorithms. Furthermore, innovative strategies to enhance T cell infiltration, persistence, and function within the tumor microenvironment are being explored, including the use of cytokines, checkpoint blockade inhibitors, and modulating the gut microbiome. 𝑪𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑭𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 Clinical trials exploring neoantigen-targeted TCR-T therapy have shown encouraging results, with some patients experiencing significant tumor regression and long-term remission. 𝑭𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕: How can the interaction between neoantigen-specific TCR-T cells and the tumor microenvironment unveil new strategies for converting cancer into a manageable condition?
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Cartherics is pleased to announce that it has entered a collaborative research agreement with TiCARos to assess its proprietary CLIP-CAR technology in Cartherics’ induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived natural killer (NK) cells. Cartherics’ CEO, Prof. Alan Trounson AO, commented: “Bringing new cutting-edge technologies such as CLIP-CAR together with Cartherics’ allogeneic NK cell platform is an exciting development that may make these therapies even more effective. We continue to work collaboratively with innovative companies and academics internationally to build a leading portfolio of therapeutic products in cancer. An effective CLIP-CAR targeting tissue factor could provide the basis of a CAR-NK product for triple negative breast cancer and other difficult to treat cancers.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/gp6Rz3df #biotech #cancer
Cartherics enters into Collaborative Research Agreement with TiCARos
https://cartherics.com
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The latest news! The European Innovation Council has awarded Trince, NecstGen, and IBSAL_IIS a substantial €2.5 million grant for our project, Penphomet. Out of 257 entries, this recognition significantly boosts our conviction to make Cell Therapy more accessible and affordable to patients worldwide. A huge thank you to the EIC for supporting our vision. [Ghent, Leiden, Salamanca, 15/03/2024] – Following a rigorous selection process by an expert panel, Trince, NecstGen, and IBSAL are proud to announce that their “Penphomet” project has been selected by The European Innovation Council (EIC) for a significant grant of €2.5 million. Out of 257 eligible submissions, Penphomet is one of the 27 that has been awarded. Led by Trince, the consortium aims to revolutionize cell therapy manufacturing by integrating nanotechnology, optics, and microfluidics. Cell therapy has shown promising results in cancer treatment, specifically using patient-derived cells like T cells and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) that have been genetically engineered to effectively target cancer cells. The primary focus of the Penphomet project is to develop a safer, non-viral method for cell engineering that minimally impacts cell functionality and phenotype. The aim is to significantly reduce the costs associated with cell therapy manufacturing. Over three years, the project aims to deliver a fully automated, high-throughput system that can be installed in centralized cell production facilities or integrated into point-of-care cell manufacturing equipment. "We are grateful for the EIC’s support in funding the Penphomet project. It demonstrates that our breakthrough technology is addressing a crucial gap in the field of cell therapy," said Philip Mathuis, CEO at Trince. "Together with our partners NecstGen and IBSAL, we are committed to advancing cell therapy manufacturing, ultimately benefiting patients and healthcare systems." “NecstGen is proud to be a part of the Penphomet consortium supporting the further development of the innovative technology of Trince. Non-viral methods for cell engineering represent a potentially cost saving route for cell engineered therapies. And furthering their use is important for the field of Cell and Gene Therapy and mission of NecstGen to enable patient access” said Paul Bilars, CEO, NecstGen. “For the IBSAL and its main partners, the University Hospital and the University of Salamanca, the Penphomet project opens the possibility of exploring a new strategy of cell modification that can be enormously attractive for the next generation of advanced therapy medical products, and we are really pleased to be part of this initiative," says Prof. Fermin Sanchez-Guijo, principal investigator of the IBSAL. The Penphomet project represents a significant advancement in improving the accessibility and affordability of cell therapies, with the potential for far-reaching impacts on cancer treatment and beyond. #celltherapy #celltherapies
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