On November 10, 2020 SQZ Biotechnologies (NYSE: SQZ), a cell therapy company developing novel treatments for multiple therapeutic areas, reported the presentation of first-time preclinical data for SQZ Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs) in combination with immune-oncology compounds in a poster at the 35th Annual Meeting of The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) (SITC 2020) virtual poster sessions . A trial-in-progress poster for SQZ-PBMC-HPV-101 and additional posters of preclinical data from two proprietary cell therapy platforms, SQZ APCs and SQZ Activating Antigen Carriers (AACs), will also be presented. The presented data for both SQZ APCs and SQZ AACs summarize the robust CD8 T cell activation observed in the pre-clinical studies, supporting their potential as promising cellular vaccine platforms.

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SQZ Posters at SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) 2020 on SQZ APCs

Abstract #140
Session: Cellular Therapies
PBMC-based Cancer Vaccines Generated with Microfluidics Squeezing Demonstrate Synergistic and Durable Tumor Reduction in Combination With PD-1 Checkpoint and FAP Targeted IL-2 Variants

Findings showed that monotherapy with SQZ-PBMC based cancer vaccines drove anti-tumor responses in a mouse model. These responses were enhanced when combined with targeted immunocytokines. In the TC-1 tumor model the following were observed:

Weekly administration of PD1-IL2v or FAP-IL2v in combination with mouse-derived SQZ-PBMC-HPV resulted in enhanced anti-tumor activity
Re-challenge of tumor-free mice treated with these combination protocols showed protective immunity without any tumor regrowth
E7-specifc CD8 TILs were driven by mouse-derived SQZ-PBMC-HPV and further augmented in combination with PD1-IL2v
Abstract #169
Session: Cellular Therapies
Microfluidic Cell Squeezing Enables Human PBMCs as Drivers of Antigen-specific
CD8 T Cell Responses Across a Broad Range of Antigens for Diverse Clinical Applications

Data showed efficient generation of APCs via Cell Squeeze technology using non-traditional human cell types that are abundant in patient leukaphereses and with multiple material types

Findings showed delivery of antigen and engineering of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as a population as well as their individual cell subtypes, T cells, B cells, monocytes and NKs cells, as APCs
Antigen specific CD8 T cell responses observed in vitro using synthetic long peptides as cargo, as well as mRNA-encoding antigen as cargo
Abstract #170
Session: Cellular Therapies
Microfluidics Cell Squeezing Enables Potent Cellular Vaccines in Murine Models Through Direct Cytosolic Loading and Direct CD8 T Cell Priming

Results showed robust generation of T cells responses and tumor reduction in murine models

Data showed rapid kinetics of mouse splenocytes processing and presentation of antigen
Dosing and adjuvating processes explored to determine boosting effects and adjuvant optimization in mice
Data highlighting that SQZ APCs elicited more efficient CD8 tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) responses as compared to peptide vaccines in mice
Abstract #418
Session: In-Progress: Clinical Trials
Clinical Trial in Progress: A Phase 1 Dose Escalation and Dose Expansion Study of SQZ-PBMC-HPV as Monotherapy and in Combination with Atezolizumab in HLA-A*02+ Patients with HPV16+ Recurrent or Metastatic Solid Tumors.

In this ongoing clinical study, researchers are evaluating the safety and tolerability of SQZ-PBMC-HPV in patients with human papillomavirus 16 positive (HPV16+) recurrent, locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors. The poster highlights:

Supporting preclinical data
Highlighting that SQZ APCs elicited more efficient CD8 TIL responses as compared to peptide vaccines
Clinical trial design
Dose escalation and expansion cohorts for monotherapy
Expansion cohorts exploring SQZ-PBMC-HPV in combination with other immune oncology agents, including atezolizumab.
Patient eligibility across all HLA A*02+ patients with HPV16+ tumors
Treatment cycles, study assessments, and endpoints
Rapid manufacturing without pre-conditioning
Patient cells processed in less than 24 hours
Vein-to-vein time of approximately 1 week
SQZ Poster at SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) 2020 on SQZ AACs

Abstract #165
Session: Cellular Therapies
Activating Antigen Carriers Generated with Microfluidic Cell Squeezing Drive Effective Anti-Tumor Responses

The Cell Squeeze technology is used to generate SQZ AACs from red blood cells (RBCs) by delivering tumor-specific antigens and adjuvant. The preclinical results showed that SQZ AACs drove antigen-specific CD8 T cell responses and anti-tumor effects, supporting its potential as a cellular vaccine. Data includes:

Rapid SQZ AAC uptake by endogenous professional antigen presenting cells
SQZ AACs drove tumor regression in mice which correlates with significant increases in antigen specific CD8 TILs