Columbia Technology Ventures

Generation of self-renewed CD4+ T cells for cancer and viral disease immunotherapy

This technology is a method for the ex vivo generation of potent and persistent cytotoxic CD4+ T cells for anti-tumor or anti-viral cellular therapy.

Unmet Need: Reliable generation of potent, non-exhausted T cells

Cellular immunotherapies utilizing cytotoxic CD4+ T cells are often impeded by the lack of a reliable method for cell manufacturing. Generation of antigen-specific T cells requires repeat antigen stimulation and a complex cocktail of cytokines to incite lymphocyte proliferation and maintain functionality. Current ex vivo protocols often generate T cells with variable potency and high exhaustion, which are unreliable for therapeutic use.

The Technology: Ex vivo culture method for generation of robust cytotoxic CD4+ T cells

This technology is an ex vivo cell culture method that generates highly active cytotoxic CD4+ T cells that are primed for antigen-specific functionality for many applications. The protocol details a specific set of culture conditions utilizing pro-inflammatory cytokines in which an initial population of cells is optimally stimulated and expanded. This method enables the generation of polyfunctional, multi-antigen-specific T cells with stimulation by one or several antigens of choice. These cells demonstrate enhanced self-renewal and anti-tumor and anti-viral cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. Thus, this technology has the potential to increase the efficiency of adoptive immunotherapy for cancers and viral diseases.

This technology has been validated in in vitro and in vivo humanized models of adaptive immunity.

Applications:

  • Cellular immunotherapy for cancer
  • Virus-specific T-cell therapy
  • Immune rejuvenation and aging prevention
  • Treatment for HIV and refractory viral infections
  • Research tool for the study of cytotoxic CD4+ T cells

Advantages:

  • Enhances antigen-specific cytotoxicity and tumor penetration
  • Retains secretion of pro-proliferative cytokines
  • Improves proliferative capacity
  • Preserves polyfunctionality
  • Increases T-cell resistance to chemotherapy drugs

Lead Inventor:

Pawel Muranski, Ph.D.

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