Define a lead candidate for clinical development of a novel T cell therapy (T2Lead)

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a disease with a poor prognosis, especially for such patients either failing initial treatment or relapsing thereafter.

In AML, specific immune cells such as T cells have been proven to bear curative potential in the context of stem cell transplantation but toxicity and therapy failure are frequent.

The use of T cells modified for specificity with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) has changed the landscape of several blood-borne cancer of the B cell lineage.

In AML, however, ongoing development of CAR T cells is associated with severe toxicities, limiting dosing and efficacy because of poor specificity of used targets for AML blasts.

In my ERC funded research, I have identified unique AML targets which are not shared with healthy hematopoesis or other relevant healthy organs. Developing CAR against these, I could demonstrate the potential of my strategy.

To enable clinical development and exploitation, T2LEAD will identify and develop lead CAR candidates for further translation.

T2LEAD will explore the medical and commercial potential of lead CAR and route exploitation towards licensing or spin out or both. T2LEAD will be supported by a strong network of advisors from academia, industry and regulation frame work. Ultimately T2LEAD will help advancing the treatment landscape in AML to the benefit of AML patients.