On March 15, 2022 EPFL spin-off Leman Biotech has raised USD 11 million for its protein that can improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy drugs used to treat some types of cancer (Press release, Leman Biotech, MAR 15, 2022, View Source [SID1234628394]).

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Immunotherapy is a promising new weapon in the fight against some types of cancer. It involves enhancing the ability of a patient’s own immune system to identify and destroy tumor cells. However, this form of treatment fails in around two thirds of patients because their T cells – the main cancer-killing lymphocytes – become exhausted. One option scientists are currently studying to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy is to add a protein that gives a boost to tired T cells. That’s the path being explored by EPFL spin-off Leman Biotech.

Its researchers have tested one such protein and found it has a nearly 90% efficacy rate on mice. "We ran several more preclinical trials these past few months using different types of human tumors transplanted into mice," says Prof. Li Tang, EPFL Professor and Co-Founder of Leman Biotech. "The results were just as encouraging, and the mice went on to have normal life expectancies."

The company just raised USD 11 million in its first funding round. The next step will be to complete the preclinical trials and then enter the clinical phase, which the start-up hopes to do within two years.

"For a first funding round, USD 11 million is a hefty sum," said Natalia Giovannini of the EPFL’s Technology Transfer Office (TTO). "Leman Biotech’s success in attracting capital reflects the considerable interest in its innovation."

The company will use the proceeds to quickly ramp up its operations. "We’ve already opened two research labs – one in the Superlab Suisse, at the Biopôle in Epalinges, and the other in southern China where our co-founder is based," concludes Tang.

On March 15, 2022 Emmanuelle BETTENDORF reported that it will participate in BioEurope Spring from March 28 to 31, 2022 and will be available to meet with you on partnership opportunities (Press release, Vect-Horus, MAR 15, 2022, View Source [SID1234610700]).

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On March 15, 2022 Enochian BioSciences, a company focused on gene modified cellular and immune therapies for infectious diseases and cancer, reported that it has issued an exclusive sub-license of one of its proprietary technologies that could improve the effectiveness of a potential cure for HIV with an anti-HIV CAR-T therapy that Caring Cross is studying in a clinical trial (Press release, Caring Cross, MAR 15, 2022, View Source [SID1234610331]). Caring Cross is an innovative non-profit that partners with others, including for-profit companies, to increase access to new technologies and medicines under a collaborative value sharing model. Caring Cross and Enochian BioSciences entered into a profit-sharing agreement as part of the sub-license.

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The CAR-T approach being studied in humans was shown to cure HIV infection in an animal model that was published in the prestigious scientific journal, Science Translational Medicine. Based on those and other key data, Caring Cross received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to advance to clinical studies that are being conducted by researchers from the University of California, San Francisco and the University of California, Davis with funding from the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine. More details of the trial can be found at clinicaltrials.gov with the identifier NCT04648046.

"We are very excited that our clinical trial has now begun. Combining innovative technologies could significantly increase the effectiveness of our therapy in the future and therefore improve its access and affordability," said Dr. Boro Dropulic, the Executive Director of Caring Cross. "The technology acquired from Enochian BioSciences is an innovative strategy that could enhance the selection of the anti-HIV CAR-T cells, potentially increasing effectiveness, lowering cost and side effects, and increasing access to those in need. If it is shown to work in laboratory and animal evaluations, we would hope to pursue additional clinical studies combining our CAR-T therapy with Enochian BioSciences’ technology."

Dr. Mark Dybul, CEO of Enochian BioSciences, said: "Our Co-Founder and Inventor, Dr. Serhat Gumrukçu, has presented data at scientific meetings showing that our proprietary approach substantially increased the selection of different cell types, including in an animal model. We have seen similar results in the laboratory with T-cells, the key to CAR-T therapy. Therefore, we are enthusiastic that the exclusive sub-license issued to Caring Cross will prove to be effective, offering hope to many people living with HIV. While these studies proceed, we continue to pursue several other novel approaches to potentially cure HIV." View Source

On March 15, 2022, Alaunos Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company") Presented the Corporate Presentation (Presentation, Alaunos Therapeutics, MAR 15, 2022, View Source [SID1234610324]).

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On March 15, 2022 Philogen reported its attendance at the 12th Annual World ADC London 2022 (Press release, Philogen, MAR 15, 2022, View Source [SID1234610272]).

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Samuele Cazzamalli, Head of Small Molecule Therapeutics at Philogen, is giving a lecture entitled "Pan-tumoral Small Molecule-Drug Conjugates targeting Fibroblast Activation Protein in solid lesions".

Dario Neri, co-founder, CEO and CSO, is giving a lecture entitled "Modulating the Therapeutic Activity of ADCs & SMDCs With Engineered Cytokine Products".