Engineered TCRs for COL6A3 Cancer Targeting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cancer therapies lack specific targeting of cancer cells, with existing T-cell receptors exhibiting low affinity and limited specificity for tumor-associated antigens like COL6A3, necessitating the development of more effective and selective anti-cancer agents.

Innovation Solution

Engineered T cell receptor (TCR) constructs with mutated complementarity determining regions (CDRs) that enhance stability, recognition, and selectivity for COL6A3 antigens, specifically binding to COL6A3 peptides presented by HLA-A*02, thereby improving affinity and specificity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional T-cell receptors are used, then the therapy can be administered, but the affinity and specificity for tumor-associated antigens like COL6A3 remain low

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovespecificityVSAvoidTCR structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by mutating the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of the T-cell receptor to alter its binding parameters. Specifically, amino acid substitutions were made in CDR1 and CDR2 regions to enhance affinity for COL6A3 peptides while maintaining MHC class I restriction, thereby improving specificity without fundamentally changing the TCR's basic structure or mechanism of action

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If TCR affinity for COL6A3 is increased through mutation, then recognition and selectivity improve, but the TCR structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproverecognitionVSAvoidTCR sequence
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making targeted mutations specifically in the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) of the TCR, particularly in CDR1 and CDR2. These localized changes in amino acid sequence enhance the binding interface's affinity for COL6A3 peptides while leaving the rest of the TCR structure intact, thereby improving recognition without unnecessarily increasing overall structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If engineered TCRs with mutated CDRs are developed, then affinity and specificity for COL6A3 increase, but the development process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveselectivityVSAvoidTCR engineering
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by using phage display technology to pre-screen and select TCR variants with improved affinity for COL6A3 peptides before in vivo administration. This preliminary selection process in a controlled in vitro system identifies optimal CDR mutations that enhance selectivity, thereby simplifying the subsequent manufacturing and clinical implementation by avoiding the need for extensive trial-and-error optimization in patients

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3707159B1Novel engineered t cell receptors and immune therapy using the same
Publication Date: 2023.01.04 IMMATICS BIOTECHNOLOGIES GMBH
  • EP3707159B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3707159B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3707159B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention pertains to antigen recognizing constructs against COL6A3 antigens. The invention in particular provides novel engineered T cell receptor (TCR) based molecules which are selective and specific for the tumor expressing antigen COL6A3. The TCR of the invention, and COL6A3 antigen binding fragments derived therefrom, are of use for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of COL6A3 expressing cancerous diseases. Further provided are nucleic acids encoding the antigen recognizing constructs of the invention, vectors comprising these nucleic acids, recombinant cells expressing the antigen recognizing constructs and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention.