Pan Cancer T, a preclinical biotech focussing on the development of TCR-T cells, has extended its collaboration with Leiden ground NecstGen to include the clinical development and manufacturing of retroviral vectors. The parties have agreed to collaborate on the development of a retroviral vector manufacturing and testing process. The process will enable Pan Cancer T to utilise its licenced, stable producer technology to supply clinical vectors. NecstGen will develop a suitable, scalable manufacturing and testing procedure, establish a Master Cell Bank of the producer cell line, and be responsible for the clinical supply of viral vectors expressing the proprietary PCT-1 COSTIM TCR construct. The vector is to be used for TRC-T cell production in trials targeting Triple Negative Breast Cancer and Multiple Myeloma. This agreement follows an earlier agreement between Pan Cancer T and NecstGen, in which a commercially viable TCR-T cell production process was arranged.
Reinout Hesselink, VP of Process Development and CMC of Pan Cancer T says: We are very glad we have been able to extend our relationship with NecstGen to include the viral vector process. As both our vector- and our cell process are developed at the same CDMO, this agreement gives us the opportunity to develop a lean supply chain. This should speed up our clinical manufacturing capabilities.
The fact that we will be using a stable producer cell line, which allows for serum-free suspension culture, means that we will have a saleable, cost-efficient manufacturing process for one of our most critical materials.
Paul Bilars, CEO of NecstGen BV, adds that this agreement confirms our position as a go-to CDMO for cell and gene therapies. After assisting Pan Cancer T with their cell manufacturing process, we will now assist them with establishing their viral vector process.
This will be an interesting vector manufacturing process for us, and our technical capabilities as a CDMO, not only for cellular drug products but also for vector products, will be useful. We can run the process in our vector unit at different scales supporting preclinical, clinical and possibly commercial supply.
On Pan Cancer T
Pan Cancer T is an immunotherapy company developing next-generation TCR-T cell therapies for solid cancer.
The Company´s products are based on a form of T cell therapy called TCR-T therapy. It exploits the abilities of T cells to recognise and kill tumour cells. Pan Cancer T has developed a highly specific TCR targeted against Rophorin-1, which is highly expressed in tumour tissue of patients suffering from Triple Negative Breast Cancer and Multiple Myeloma. It has also developed a proprietary costimulatory molecule to enhance the activity and longevity of the TCR-expressing T cells.
Pan Cancer T´s differentiated Next Generation approach thus addresses two major obstacles in the field. Firstly, we work on a unique set of 30 untapped targets, exclusively and robustly expressed in multiple solid cancers. Secondly, our augmented T cells are engineered for enhanced durability in order to drive deeper and more durable clinical responses in multiple solid tumours.
On NecstGen
The Netherlands Center for the Clinical Advancement of Stem Cell and Gene Therapies (NecstGen) comprises a state-of-the-art facility for development and GMP manufacturing. NecstGen additionally offers cleanroom rental to allow organisations to maintain control of production while de-risking the capital investment required.
NecstGen is open to the world and supports academic, small, and large industrial therapy developers to translate research and early-stage clinical programs into patient treatments. One of NecstGen’s primary aims is to support the development of therapeutics for orphan diseases that may be underserved but are nevertheless catastrophic to people who suffer from them.
NecstGen is a mission-driven CDMO owned by Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). This large-scale investment to support academia and industry was undertaken to address the barriers to entry for the creation of next-generation therapeutics, including:
- Investment: The high cost of capital equipment, facilities, research, and development.
- Limited capacity: Market availability of development and manufacturing slots.
- Know-how: Knowledge, expertise, and talent acquisition.
- Intellectual property: Complex ownership and control of the technologies required to realise new therapies successfully.