INNOVATION
Inspired and ambitious, our researchers are pioneers in cancer research having made one of the most exciting advances in recent times, the discovery of nfP2X7 – a new oncology target, that’s tumour-specific and shown to be present on the cell surface of a wide range of tumour types, including lung, breast, colorectal and prostate.
With a focus on immunotherapies we are using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell and antibody programs to target nfP2X7, and currently have several in development. If successful, we will be one step closer to our vision – targeted treatment for millions of cancer patients worldwide.
WHAT IS nfP2X7?
WHAT IS CAR T?
CAR T-cell therapy is the engineering of a patient’s T cells, a type of white blood cell. A small portion of these cells are collected, from a patient’s blood sample, and re-engineered to produce chimeric antigen receptors (CAR’s) on the cell surface.
The chimeric antigen receptors give T cells the ability to target cancer cells. They comprise two specific components: one, an antibody fragment allowing CARs to identify targets on the cancer cell surface; and the second, creates signals that activate T cells to attack cancer cells. Hence, CAR T-cells. These cells are then expanded and reinjected into the patient where they multiply and seek out and attack cancer cells throughout the body.
WHY CAR T?
CAR T-cell therapy has been shown the bring positive outcomes for patients suffering from cancers that are resistant to other treatments.
By combining the specificity of nfP2X7-targeting antibodies directly with the patient’s own immune cells, we believe that an nfP2X7 -targeted CAR T therapy has the potential to deliver new, safe and powerful personalised therapeutic options to a great number of cancer patients who are facing limited treatment alternatives.
TARGETED ANTIBODY THERAPY
We are also developing antibodies that specifically target nfP2X7 for use in both solid and haematological tumours. Our preclinical data is very promising and studies show an excellent safety profile. By exploiting the modular nature of the antibody structure, the same panel of antibody sequences can be used to generate a variety of therapeutic antibody formats including, but not limited to, monoclonal, bispecifics, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs) in addition to our CAR-T program.
