Briacell files patent for TILsRx cancer therapy system

Executive Summary

• Briacell Therapeutics Corp. and its subsidiary, BriaPro Therapeutics Corp., have filed a provisional patent application for the TILsRx platform, a novel immuno-oncology technology utilizing multivalent agents.
• The TILsRx platform is designed to simultaneously engage multiple tumor-associated and immune pathway targets to address immune suppression and T cell exhaustion, aiming to improve T cell activation and persistence in the tumor microenvironment.
• The platform utilizes specific elements including soluble CD80, anti-CD3, IL-21, and anti-STEAP1, with an early candidate target being B7-H3, an antigen overexpressed in prostate, lung, breast, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers.

Key Details

• Patent Filing: A provisional patent application was filed for the TILsRx platform.
• Platform Mechanism: The technology employs multivalent agents (antibodies, soluble receptors, and cytokines) to activate Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs), enhance binding to tumor cells, and block immune checkpoints.
• Key Components:
  • Soluble CD80: Functions as both an immune checkpoint inhibitor and an immunostimulator.
  • Anti-CD3: Acts as a potent T cell activator.
  • IL-21: Enhances cytotoxic T cell function.
  • Anti-STEAP1: Targets STEAP1, a cancer antigen expressed in prostate cancer and others.
• Target Antigen: Early candidate target is B7-H3, which is overexpressed in prostate, lung, breast, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers while being minimally expressed in normal tissue.
• Strategic Benefits: Management states the platform allows for manufacturing efficiency through shared core components and offers flexibility to incorporate new immunotherapy targets. It is expected to synergize with Briacell's existing cell-based cancer vaccine programs.

Notable Quotes

• "We have developed novel multivalent anti-cancer agents which we expect to be both highly selective and highly effective, maximizing on-target efficacy while minimizing off-target toxicity to provide improved clinical responses in multiple indications." — Miguel Lopez-Lago, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer
• "The TILsRx platform reflects our goal to develop an effective and safe class of therapeutics for cancer patients. TILsRx agents combine shared core components that improve manufacturing efficiency with elements that target specific cell surface antigens. This strategy provides the flexibility to include new immunotherapy targets identified in the future." — Markus D. Lacher, PhD, Key Inventor
• "Our advanced multivalent technology provides us to quickly expand our proprietary pipeline of novel immuno-oncology programs in BriaPro in a cost-effective manner... We anticipate that the multivalent approach will have activity against multiple types of cancers and may also synergize with Briacell's cell-based cancer vaccine programs." — Dr. William V. Williams, President and CEO