Value Proposition:
· Dual specific targeting for improved full T-cell and amplification.
· Interchangeable protein components can be customized for cancer, infectious disease, and autoimmune disorder therapies.
· Deliverable by nanoparticles into cells in vivo, in vitro, and ex vivo for immune activation.
Unmet Need:
Immunotherapy is a rapidly emerging approach that leverages the body’s natural immune system as a powerful and customizable tool to target and treat many diseases. One approach is to enhance T-cell activation and amplification. Activating T-cells from a naïve state requires exposing T cells with specific antigens, costimulatory surface proteins and secreted cytokines (Signals 1, 2, and 3). Co-stimulatory signals are potential immunotherapeutic targets to enhance T-cell activation, but they are still under investigation for patient therapy. Methods involving transferring genetic material are limited by their ability to incorporate multiple constructs when applied to clinical cases. Therefore, there is a strong need to further investigate the signal 2 co-stimulatory and/or signal 3 cytokine pathway and develop delivery strategies to modulate signaling that can be translated in the clinic.
Technology Description:
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have developed bioengineered fusion protein and bicistronic gene tools for improved T-cell activation and regulation with a single construct. They demonstrate that expression with the fusion construct and the bicistronic construct both led to improved immune activation. Additionally, the components can be interchanged with other molecules and applied to various immune related diseases including cancer, infectious disease, and autoimmune disorders. This technology represents a platform for T cell activation biologics that can be translated for use in cancer, infectious disease, and autoimmune diseases.
Stage of Development:
· Researchers have demonstrated in vivo immune activation when treating cells with nanoparticles harboring the disclosure drug and other existing compounds.
· The team has outlined methods to produce the disclosed drug.
Data Availability:
Data available upon request
Publication:
- Yang, Joanna, et al. "Development of Bicistronic Plasmids and Fusion Proteins for Clinical Translation of Tumor Immune Reprogramming." Molecular Therapy Advances.
