Sindbis Viral Vector TAA Delivery for Antitumor Immunity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current oncolytic virus therapies face limitations in replication and propagation at tumor sites, and safety concerns restrict their effectiveness, necessitating alternative approaches to enhance tumor targeting and immune response.

Innovation Solution

The use of Sindbis viral vectors carrying tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) for immunogenic delivery, which transiently express TAAs in lymph nodes, activating a potent CD8+ T-cell response and inducing epitope spreading to target tumor cells, regardless of direct tumor cell targeting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If oncolytic viruses are designed to be replication deficient for safety reasons, then safety is improved, but oncolytic potential and tumor targeting capability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidoncolytic potential
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the therapeutic function into two separate viral vectors: one replication-deficient vector for safe TAA delivery and immune priming, and another replication-competent oncolytic virus for direct tumor cell lysis. This segmentation allows each vector to optimize its specific function without compromise

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The replication-deficient SV vector acts as an intermediary that delivers TAAs and stimulates immune response, which then enhances the effectiveness of the replication-competent oncolytic virus. The immune response serves as a bridge between the two vectors, converting the limited oncolytic activity into amplified antitumor effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If oncolytic viruses are designed to replicate and propagate at tumor sites, then oncolytic potential is improved, but safety concerns worsen due to potential spread to healthy tissues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoncolytic potentialVSAvoidspread to healthy tissues
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates local immunogenicity at the tumor site by delivering TAAs specifically to tumor-associated lymph nodes and stimulating localized immune responses. The immune activation is concentrated where needed (tumor microenvironment and draining lymph nodes) while maintaining systemic safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If tumor associated antigens are delivered directly to tumor cells, then tumor targeting is improved, but immune response effectiveness worsens due to poor immunogenicity of TAAs in their natural state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetumor targetingVSAvoidimmunogenicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses dendritic cells and antigen-presenting cells as intermediaries to process and present the delivered TAAs to T cells. The viral vector delivers TAAs to these professional antigen-presenting cells, which then activate the adaptive immune response through proper MHC presentation, converting poor immunogenic TAAs into potent immune stimulants

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the location and context of TAA expression from tumor cells to lymphoid tissues and antigen-presenting cells. By expressing TAAs in the context of viral infection and immune activation in lymph nodes, the immunogenicity parameter is dramatically enhanced compared to native TAA expression

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If Sindbis viral vectors are used to deliver TAAs to lymph nodes, then immune response activation is improved, but direct tumor cell targeting deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmune response activationVSAvoiddirect tumor cell targeting
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary immune priming by delivering TAAs to lymph nodes before administering the replication-competent oncolytic virus. This preliminary action creates a pre-activated immune state that is then directed against tumor cells, amplifying the overall therapeutic effect without requiring direct TAA delivery to tumors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This approach leads to significant therapeutic effects, including tumor remission and long-term survival in mice, with the generation of memory CD8+ T cells capable of targeting both TAA-positive and -negative tumor cells, overcoming limitations of direct tumor targeting and immune evasion.

Implementation Method 1

parenterally administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a Sindbis viral vector carrying a gene encoding the TAA

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViral vector delivery:

Implementation Method 2

eliciting an immune response directed against the tumor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImmune response activation:

Implementation Method 3

inducing a CD8+ T-cell mediated immune response directed against a tumor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectT-cell mediated cytotoxicity:

Data Source

PatentEP3925619A1Method for inducing antitumor immunity using sindbis viral vectors and tumor associated antigens
Publication Date: 2021.12.22 NEW YORK UNIV
  • EP3925619A1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1c
  • EP3925619A1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2c
  • EP3925619A1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

A method for treating a mammal harboring a tumor comprising the steps of identifying a tumor associated antigen (TAA) expressed by the tumor,, and parenterally administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a Sindbis viral vector carrying a gene encoding the TAA to the mammal sufficient to elicit an immune response directed against the tumor, and thereby treating, the tumor.