LabGenius to create molecules with enhanced tumor-killing abilities
LabGenius, which uses machine learning (ML) for antibody discovery, has presented the data in a poster presentation at the Protein Engineering and Biotherapy (PEGS) annual meeting. The data comes from LabGenius’ T-cell lead optimization (TCE) platform, which produces highly potent and efficacious single-domain antibodies with best-in-class killing selectivity.
Optimizing antibody therapy across multiple traits is a challenge, especially for TCE. As a result, many existing immunotherapies have a poor selective cell killing profile, which can result in target, non-tumor toxic toxicity and treatment interruption. On-target, off-tumor effects occur due to the presence of target antigens in different types of tissue, which means that healthy tissue is also targeted and caught in the crossfire.
LabGenius’ ML-based platform can be used for simultaneous optimization of potency, efficacy, tumor cell selectivity, and propagation ability. In the demonstration study, the LabGenius platform was used to co-optimize the VHH-based HER2xCD3 TCE, resulting in highly selective and high-performance delivery of novel molecules with non-intuitive design features.
The best performing molecules demonstrated ≥10,000-fold killing selectivity, corresponding to a >400-fold improvement over the clinically relevant benchmark, Runimotamab (a TCE currently in phase I clinical trials).
LabGenius leverages this target and format-agnostic platform technology across its wholly owned partner program and TCE network.
LabGenius is changing cancer medicine
“Antibody-based immunotherapies, including TCE, have the potential to change the way we approach cancer treatment,” said LabGenius’ chief scientific officer, Gino Van Heeke.
“This demonstration study has delivered impressive results, verifying that the LabGenius ML-based platform can modify molecular designs to address existing therapeutic deficiencies. These platform technologies are now being applied to TCE in our wholly owned pipeline so that our lead optimization capabilities can benefit patients.”
CEO and founder, James Field, said the results represent “an important milestone for the company as they clearly demonstrate the ability of our platform to accelerate the discovery of highly targeted molecules that can reduce toxic side effects associated with existing immunotherapies. We are excited to offer these unique capabilities to our partners, while also deploying the technology to our own pipeline of therapeutic assets.”
T-cell binder
T-cell followers (TCE) are a type of immunotherapy designed to activate a patient’s immune system to attack cancer cells. TCE works by binding to both T cells, which are a type of white blood cell that plays a key role in the immune response, and cancer cells. By bridging these two cell types, TCE activates T cells to attack and kill cancer cells.
