Biotech Strategy Blog

Commentary on Science, Innovation & New Products with a focus on Oncology, Hematology & Cancer Immunotherapy

Posts tagged ‘NK cells’

The Potential of CAR-NK Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy

This week the conference cycle continues with the annual meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) (Twitter #ASGCT20).

Due to the ongoing travel challenges and need for social distancing as result of Covid–19, one key annual immunology meeting originally slated for this month was AAI in Honolulu, which was sadly cancelled. Fortunately, ASGCT is being held as a live virtual meeting instead, so do check it out if you have a keen interest in this field.

One area we’re hoping to learn more about at ASGCT20 is cell therapy using natural killer (NK) cells. It’s an exciting and emerging area, which is attracting a lot of interest of late.

Those following the NK cell space will no doubt have seen the recent announcement of the collaboration between Kite/Gilead and Melbourne based oNKo-innate, co-founded by Prof Nick Huntington (@Dr_Nick_Bikes) and Dr Jai Rautella (Link to PR).

Other NK focused companies in the news include the licensing by Avectas of the CAR-NK cell therapy from Galway based ONK Therapeutics, founded by Prof Mike O’Dwyer (@MichaelodwyerMD) (Link to PR).

It’s definitely an exciting time to be an NK cell biologist!

In our ongoing series of expert interviews, we caught up with Prof Huntington from Melbourne to talk about the potential of CAR-NK cell therapies.

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Alternative cell therapy approaches to tackling cancer

In the fourth part of our mini-series in novel targets and agents in development we turn to novel cell therapy approaches that are perhaps under the radar for many observers.

While these might seem bleak times during a pandemic, there’s always a silver lining somewhere

While much attention has been focused on antigen loss or downregulation of the target wih adoptive cell therapies, research continues to evaluate various solutions to the problem.

One obvious way is to develop dual CARs or target multiple antigen targets of relevance to the tumour type being investigated.

There are other potential solutions being looked at, both in preclinical animal models and in translational work using cells from people treated with HSCT or CAR T cell therapies.

Here, we look at an alternative immunotherapy approach, which with time may have utility in both hematologic malignancies, as well as solid tumours…

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Unlocking novel IO targets and anti-cancer agents in early development

Time to unlock some novel IO targets?

Continuing our latest four part mini-series, this one is on novel targets and agents and we now turn our attention to immuno-oncology in the last two articles pertaining to this particular topic.

You can read the first two articles on targeted therapies here and here.

For the avoidance of any doubt, this latest review is not about T cells, far from it.

Instead we cover six different areas, most of which are related or integrated in some shape of form.

There’s a lot of promising new science now coming out to help us better understand the underlying biology and also think out of the box about ways to enhance or improve on existing research.

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Life, the world, and the cell therapy universe

In our latest expert interview, we depart from the usual focus on one of two particular or narrow topics and indulge in a more wide ranging discussion to explore a variety of issues facing the IO field and look at them from the perspective of a researcher who is experienced in working with antibodies in various forms.

We cover a lot of ground from CAR-T cells to bispecifics to NK cells – while many people in industry may see these approaches as separate modalities in different niches, in the future we may well see a greater convergent and opportunities for regimens and combinations rather than a more nihilistic either/or approach.

I have long been fascinated with design of molecules and how different tweaks or enhancements can change the way something works – for better or worse. Just as we have learned much from immune agonists and their biphasic curves that result from constant stimulation (and ways to fix that too), so too will we see CARs, T cell engagers, and NK cell therapies adapt and improve in terms of how they are constructed.

Who better to talk about these changes and the learnings to be had lately than someone who has built and tested many antibodies for a living and is now running his own company?

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Will innate bispecifics make a difference in hematologic malignancies and solid tumours?

After yesterday’s look at a biotech company (F-star) who are focused on adaptive approaches with bispecific antibodies using checkpoint and immune agonist targets, we now shift direction within Europe to a completely different concept, although both are tetramer-based.

Oncology R&D can be a stop-start journey that is highly unpredictable and uncertain!

In the third part of our latest mini-series on bispecific antibodies, we now take a look a company who are evaluating this modality as a way to activate NK cells and stimulate the innate immune system. With all the fuss and attention on the adaptive immune system and checkpoint blockade, is there a role for innate immunotherapies?

Rather than look at this aspect as competitive, smart companies are seeking ways to complement existing backbones to determine if the outcomes can be boosted by targeting both innate and adaptive systems in a more coordinated manner.

To find out more about these developments, we talked to Dr Adi Hoess, CEO of Affimed, a German biotech company who are developing innate immunotherapies.

They have certainly been on a roller coaster ride of late, with clinical hold and abandonment of a leading program balanced by encouraging initial data with other projects, so what gives?

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ASH18 Highlights from Day 2

For today’s post, we’ve curated our individual highlights from the tsunami of data that flew thick and fast yesterday between science sessions, oral presentations and poster hall gems.

There were some pleasant surprises in the mix, to be sure, plus the weather brightened up immeasurably!

Yesterday’s lunch time ASH Dash was quieter than usual

Having whittled the number of trial highlights for review and critique down to thirteen key insights and learnings, what made our joint list?

To find out more, check out the post below!

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Preview of CICON18 – Part 2

Increasingly we are seeing more research on the inflammatory status of the tumour microenvironment (TME) in recent years, not to mention the impact of cytokine and chemokine signalling pathways, and how they can be manipulated therapeutically.

There’s also a much wider range of novel immunotherapy approaches being evaluated such as checkpoints, CARs and vaccines with respect to both T and NK cell therapies. There are also a few other immune cells being targeted for developmental therapeutics.

As part of the ongoing CICON18 Preview series, we take a look at what’s in store and why the latest ten we’ve highlighted matter in the broader context of the evolving landscape…

For those who missed it, Part 1 can be found here.

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Innate Pharma – converting science into the clinic

Every year for our annual AACR Preview coverage we like to mix things up and explore what’s happening with different targets, pathways, and even companies.

In this latest post for #AACR18, we take a look at a company that has historically been involved in R&D associated with the innate immune system. As new molecules have evolved against different targets, researchers have begun to realise that we can actually target both the innate and adaptive immune systems together rather than one or the other.

We have covered several clinical developments from Innate Pharma on lirilimumab, but they are actually more than a one compound biotech and have a growing pipeline of antibodies against several novel targets, some of which are unique to the company.

This isn’t just about the science behind the pipeline as we also explore facets of corporate strategy and where the company is headed in the near to medium term future.  While in London earlier this month, we caught up with Dr Mondher Mahjoubi (CEO) and Prof Eric Vivier (CSO) for a candid and detailed fire side chat.

There was plenty to discuss and some interesting new developments to highlight…

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Targeting NK cells effectively in AML

Continuing our NK cell series, we turn to a different area of work within this niche, namely how cytokines can help boost effectiveness of the clinical responses in hematologic malignancies through their impact on memory-like cells.

Spring is in the air!

This is an important aspect to consider bearing in mind that while NK cells can be useful in attacking cancer cells, they are also notoriously more fickle and less durable than their T cell cousins in sustaining cytlotic effects.

How can this be fixed? What therapeutic approaches might be potentially useful in addressing the problem?

To find out more, we spoke to a learned clinician-scientist involved in research in this arena to learn more about what he had to say and also discover why a molecule they are working on in early clinical development is starting to look quite promising.

The good news is that it may also have utility in solid tumours as well, through the effects that it induces.

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A look at NK cells – an interview with Dr Michael Caligiuri

Dr Michael Caligiuri (City of Hope)

In the first of our extended thought leader interviews relating to the latest mini-series, we explore NK cell research through the lens of one of the experts in this niche.

This one is more of a convivial fireside chat than the usual interviews where we discuss data, latest readouts, development blowouts, or clinical trials etc.

So who’s in the spotlight this time around?

It’s none other than Dr Michael Caligiuri (City of Hope) who also happens to be the current President of AACR.

What’s cool is that he has been involved in NK cell research for a couple of decades and has seen a lot of changes in that time.  He’s also an engaging and humble researcher who had some interesting perspectives on where success in the future might lie with approaches in this niche.

So grab a cup of joe and settle down to learning an intriguing story…

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