Allogeneic Antigen-Presenting Cells for Cancer Vaccines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cancer vaccines, particularly those using autologous or allogeneic cell-based approaches, face challenges such as high production costs and time-consuming processes, limiting their timely and cost-effective development and implementation, and existing vaccines like CANVAXIN have shown limited survival benefits in clinical trials.

Innovation Solution

Development of artificial antigen-presenting cells expressing B7 molecules and 4-1BB agonists, enhanced by interferon treatment, which are used to stimulate a stronger immune response by enhancing antigen-presenting functions and can be derived from animal cells like melanoma cells, offering a synergistic immunopotentiation effect.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If autologous or allogeneic cell-based vaccines are used, then immune response is enhanced, but production time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmune responseVSAvoidproduction time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-engineering allogeneic cell lines to constitutively express high levels of B7.1 and 4-1BBL molecules before vaccination. This eliminates the need for time-consuming ex vivo manipulation of patient cells, as the immunopotentiation properties are already built into the allogeneic cell lines. The cells are prepared in advance and can be used directly for vaccination, significantly reducing production time while maintaining enhanced immune response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by creating standardized allogeneic cell line models that replicate the desired immunopotentiation functions. Instead of customizing vaccines for each patient (autologous approach), standardized allogeneic cell lines with engineered B7.1 and 4-1BBL expression are used as universal copies that can serve multiple patients, reducing both time and cost while maintaining efficacy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If autologous or allogeneic cell-based vaccines are used, then immune response is enhanced, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmune responseVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies copying by using standardized allogeneic cell lines that can be manufactured once and used for multiple patients. This eliminates the need for expensive custom manufacturing for each patient (autologous approach). The allogeneic cell lines with engineered B7.1 and 4-1BBL expression serve as reusable templates, significantly reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining enhanced immune response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies universality by creating allogeneic cell lines with constitutive B7.1 and 4-1BBL expression that can serve as universal vaccines for multiple patients with different cancers. These multi-functional cell lines provide both tumor antigen presentation and immunopotentiation signals, eliminating the need for patient-specific customization and reducing per-patient manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If B7.1 expression is enhanced on melanoma vaccine cells, then CD8+ T cell responses are mediated, but additional molecular engineering is required

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCD8+ T cell responsesVSAvoidmolecular engineering
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by combining multiple immunopotentiation functions into a single engineered feature. Instead of separately engineering B7.1 expression, 4-1BBL expression, and tumor antigen presentation, the patent integrates all these functions into the allogeneic melanoma cell line through single transfection events or viral transductions. This simultaneous multi-functional engineering reduces overall complexity compared to sequential modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies composite materials by creating composite allogeneic cell lines that express multiple immunopotentiation molecules (B7.1 and 4-1BBL) simultaneously. These composite cells function as integrated immunological platforms that provide both co-stimulatory signals and tumor antigen presentation in a single therapeutic agent, simplifying the overall vaccine composition and administration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The enhanced antigen-presenting cells elicit a markedly improved immune response against target antigens, particularly in subjects with depleted natural antigen-presenting cell populations, demonstrating increased CD8+ T cell responses and tumor cell lysis, potentially offering a more effective and efficient cancer treatment option.

Implementation Method 1

wherein the antigen-presenting function of the cell (e.g., a higher level of major histocompatability complex on the cell surface) is enhanced by exposure to at least one interferon (IFN)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInterferon treatment:

Implementation Method 2

an artificial antigen-presenting cell comprising a B7 molecule and a 4-1BB agonist on its surface, wherein the antigen-presenting function of the cell is enhanced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAntigen presentation:

Data Source

PatentEP3277313B1Agents and compositions for eliciting an immune response
Publication Date: 2021.06.23 CANCURE LTD
  • EP3277313B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3277313B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3277313B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Disclosed are immune potentiating compositions. More particularly, the present invention discloses compositions comprising cells exhibiting enhanced antigen-presenting functions. The compositions of the present invention are generally useful in facilitating the stimulation of host immune cell responses, including selective and targeted immune cell responses and are particularly useful in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of cancers, tumours and pathogenic infections.