On November 2, 2020 Immunomic Therapeutics, Inc. reported that it will present preclinical data on its investigational nucleic acid platform, UNITE (UNiversal Intracellular Targeted Expression), that elicits potent immune responses when used with its investigational UNITE vaccine, ITI-3000, in mice (Press release, Immunomic Therapeutics, NOV 2, 2020, View Source [SID1234569681]). UNITE fuses a tumor-associated antigen, here a mutated form of the large T antigen (LT) of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPγV), with lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1). This lysosomal targeting technology results in enhanced antigen presentation and a balanced T cell response, as ITI-3000 activated antigen-specific CD4+ T cells in vivo. The data will be presented at the SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) Virtual Annual Meeting, November 9-14, 2020.
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"ITI-3000 is an innovative and novel targeted approach to a MCPγV vaccine," says Teri Heiland, Ph.D., Immunomic’s Chief Scientific Officer. "We are greatly reassured by this data and anticipate advancement to the clinic for ITI-3000."
The majority of Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC) are associated with Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) infection, making LT an attractive target for therapeutic cancer vaccines. MCPγV integrates into the host genome, resulting in expression of a truncated form of the viral LT in infected cells. While induction of tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells is a major goal of cancer therapy, CD4+ T cells provide essential support to CD8+ T cells by promoting their expression of cytotoxic effector molecules and increasing their migratory capacity. Cytokines secreted by CD4+ T cells, such as IFNγ, can also exert desirable effects on the tumor microenvironment. Although further study is needed, a cancer vaccine that promotes potent, antigen-specific CD4+ T cell responses to MCPγV-LT may drive anti-tumor immune responses.
Poster Title: LAMP1 targeting of the large T antigen of Merkel cell polyomavirus elicits potent CD4+ T cell responses and prevents tumor growth
Session Type: Virtual Poster Hall
Poster Number: 857
Poster Session Date and Time: 11/11/2020 – 11/14/2020, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm EST
About UNITE
ITI’s investigational UNITE platform, or UNiversal Intracellular Targeted Expression, works by fusing pathogenic antigens with the Lysosomal Associated Membrane Protein, an endogenous protein in humans, for immune processing. In this way, ITI’s vaccines (DNA or RNA) have the potential to utilize the body’s natural biochemistry to develop a broad immune response including antibody production, cytokine release and critical immunological memory. This approach could put UNITE technology at the crossroads of immunotherapies in a number of illnesses, including cancer, allergy and infectious diseases. UNITE is currently being employed in Phase II clinical trials as a cancer immunotherapy. ITI is also collaborating with academic centers and biotechnology companies to study the use of UNITE in cancer types of high mortality, including cases where there are limited treatment options like glioblastoma and acute myeloid leukemia. ITI believes that these early clinical studies may provide a proof of concept for UNITE therapy in cancer, and if successful, set the stage for future studies, including combinations in these tumor types and others. Preclinical data is currently being developed to explore whether LAMP nucleic acid constructs may amplify and activate the immune response in highly immunogenic tumor types and be used to create immune responses to tumor types that otherwise do not provoke an immune response.