LIfT produces neutrophil-based cell therapies from iPSCs

LIfT BioSciences has announced the successful proof-of-concept production of its patented cancer-killing neutrophil alpha from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

A proof-of-concept using iN-LIfT, the company’s second-generation platform, derived from iPSCs (a cell type that has been reprogrammed so that it can become any cell type) has shown that neutrophil-type alpha cells generated from iPSCs can be activated by chemokines that released by the tumor and the cells actively destroy cancer cells.

The successful results observed using iPSCs will enable the Company to manufacture more scalable and cost-effective allogeneic immuno-modulatory alpha neutrophils (IMANs) as iPSCs can be expanded (multiplied) almost infinitely to provide a ready-to-use product that can be used in all cancer patients without the need for continuous stem cell donor.

IMAN is a unique type of enhanced neutrophil with a unique dual mode of action that can directly kill cancer cells and indirectly by recruiting the patient’s own immune cells to kill cancer cells also by modulating the tumor microenvironment (commonly known as turning tumor cold into hot). ). ”). The company’s first-generation platform, N-LIfT, derived from hemopoietic stem cells (HSC), has already moved into the clinic for its allogeneic HSC-derived IMAN product with trials planned to start in H1 2024.

LIFT BioSciences ‘fast-to-market’ commercial strategy

Alex Blyth, chief executive of LIfT BioSciences, said: “Our goal is to develop scalable, cost-effective, ready-to-use cell therapies that can be used in all cancer patients without the need for an on-going stem cell donor. Our patented production process is quite simple compared to other cell therapies, without the need for feeder cells or expensive magnetic bead enrichment. Therefore, it is very exciting that our IMAN, which we have designed to overcome many of the challenges with other cell therapies, can now also be made at a lower product cost than iPSCs. We have moved one step further to aim not only to cure cancer but also to make cancer treatment affordable.”

iPSC’s work supports the company’s ‘fast-to-market’ commercial strategy of using the iN-LIFT platform to deliver the most scalable and cost-effective therapies to patients without delaying how quickly they can reach market.

LIfT BioSciences is developing its first generation of HSC-derived products in a phase I trial next year to address key questions about dosage, administration, lymphodepletion rates and predictive testing. It will then develop major second-generation iPSC-derived products directly into Phase Ib/II trials with many of the basic questions already answered in this first-class therapy to maximize the likelihood of success in achieving ultimate efficacy. CAR-FAITH iPSC derivative products.

Earlier this year, LIfT BioSciences announced data demonstrating potent tumoroid killing of pancreatic cancer. It also revealed a breakthrough in treating solid tumors.