Novel adjuvant class for use in immunotherapy and vaccination
Referenznummer TO 03-00207a
Challenge
Strong T cell responses are critical for obtaining effective protection in vaccination and immunotherapy. In particular novel therapeutic approaches addressing the human endogenous immune system and sophisticated vaccine design strategies highlight the need for powerful and specific adjuvants.
Technology
CD3kappa is a novel soluble splice variant of CD3delta that stabilizes T cell receptors (TCR) on cell surfaces. 48 h treatment of PBMC with the peptide in vitro increases TCR expression up to 25-fold. In PBMC from immune suppressed patients, TCR expression is restored back to the normal level under CD3kappa treatment. Besides, the factor modulates cell surface markers expression and induces a long-lasting chemokine- and cytokine secretion.
Enhancing TCR expression in T lymphocytes strongly increases immune responses. As many approaches in immunotherapy or vaccination aim to strengthen reactivity of the endogenous immune system, the peptide can be considered an interesting and completely new class of adjuvant candidate. CD3kappa can easily be synthesized with solid phase peptide synthesizers and is therefore perfectly suited for in vivo applications, escaping the tremendous regulations which must be fulfilled with recombinant pharmaceuticals.
Commercial Opportunity
Exclusive in-licensing opportunity for the clinical drug development
Patent Situation
An international patent application (WO 2007/147630) is pending.
