Led by Biomunex alongside Paris-based Institut Curie and GTP Bioways, the BiXAb5 non-conventional T cell redirection project seeks to create breakthrough immunotherapy approach to cancer treatment based on bispecific antibodies; it has a total budget of €5.6m.
It was one of nine projects awarded grants by the French authorities, from a total of 90 applications, as part of its Grand Défi Biomédicament scheme.
The partners are employing redirection technology targeting a subpopulation of non-conventional T cells; an earlier research tie-up between Institut Curie and Biomunex resulted in a patent application filing covering a universal non-conventional T cell redirection approach.
The project is based on bispecific antibodies generated by the BiXAb platform, which was discovered and developed by Biomunex. This next-generation ‘plug and play’ proprietary platform can quickly and cost-effectively produce bispecific antibodies from any pair of monoclonal antibodies as building blocks, with minimal engineering.
Safe and effective immunotherapy
This work could open the door to an immunotherapy that is safer and more effective than current T cell redirection immunotherapies such as CD3 or gamma-delta. Pierre-Emmanuel Gerard, CEO of Biomunex, told BioPharma-Reporter why that is the case:
“BiXAb5 is targeting a non-conventional T cell sub-population which, when redirected to engage cancer cells, can exhibit significant cytotoxic capabilities. Furthermore, engagement and activation of this non-conventional T-cell subset do not cause extensive cytokine release – which would suggest a safer clinical profile. In addition, BiXAb5, unlike classical T-cell engagers, is restricted to one subset of T-cells, and does not bind regulatory T cells which may have a negative impact on overall tumor control.”