On June 25, 2021 Prescient Therapeutics Limited (ASX:PTX) reported that it has successfully completed the manufacturing and delivery of crucial components for its unique, next-generation OmniCAR platform (Press release, Prescient Therapeutics, JUN 25, 2021, View Source;utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=prescient-therapeutics-reaches-a-major-car-t-manufacturing-milestone [SID1234584383]).
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The two novel components of the OmniCAR platform are: the SpyTagged binders and CAR-T cells expressing SpyCatcher. Notably, the SpyTag/SpyCatcher system is a crucial technology for binding of proteins. SpyCatcher is a genetically encoded protein, which reacts with SpyTag, a peptide of 13 amino acids, forming a bond between the two.
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Delivery of binders and lentiviral vectors
The Company disclosed that a range of binders against various cancer targets, including CLL-1, CD33, EGFRviii, and Her2, have been manufactured by a US-based antibody manufacturer. More importantly, Prescient has incorporated SpyTag into these binders for the Company’s three next-gen CAR-T programs. SpyTag is necessary for covalent binding to immune cells (for instance, T-cells) in the OmniCAR system.
Source: PTX Update, 24 June 2021
Besides binders, Prescient has also obtained the delivery of lentiviral vectors. Lentiviral vectors are viruses which are used as gene delivery vehicle as they help in inserting, tweaking, or deleting a particular gene in a cell or organism.
As highlighted by PTX, lentiviral vectors are a rate-limiting step in CAR-T production and will be used to produce CAR-T cells expressing SpyCatcher.
Together, the SpyTagged binders and SpyCatcher CAR-T cells establish the basis for Prescient’s unique, modular OmniCAR platform.
The binders and lentiviral vectors have been delivered to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, or Peter Mac, in Melbourne for construct assessment as well as in vivo and in vitro development.