LIfT BioSciences has announced successful proof-of-concept production of its patented cancer-killing alpha neutrophils from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
The proof-of-concept using iN-LIfT, the company’s second-generation platform, which is derived from iPSCs (a type of cell that has been reprogrammed so it is capable of becoming any type of cell) has shown that the alpha neutrophil type cells produced from iPSCs are able to be activated by chemokines released by tumors and that the cells actively destroy cancer cells.
The successful outcome observed using iPSCs will allow the Company to produce even more scalable and cost-effective allogeneic immuno-modulatory alpha neutrophils (IMANs) because iPSCs can be almost infinitely expanded (multiplied) to provide an off-the-shelf product that can be used in all cancer patients without an ongoing need for stem cell donors.
IMANs are a unique type of enhanced neutrophil with a unique dual mode of action that can both directly kill cancer cells and indirectly through recruiting the patient’s own immune cells to kill cancer cells also by modulating the tumor microenvironment (commonly known as turning cold tumors “hot”). The company’s first-generation platform, N-LIfT, which is hemopoietic stem cell (HSC) derived, is already moving into the clinic for its allogeneic HSC derived IMAN product with trials planned to commence in H1 2024.
LIfT BioSciences ‘fast-to-market’ commercial strategy
Alex Blyth, chief executive officer of LIfT BioSciences, said: “Our goal is to develop a scalable and cost-effective off-the-shelf cell therapy that can be used in all cancer patients without the ongoing need for stem cell donors. Our patented production process is pretty simple compared to other cell therapies, with no feeder cells or expensive magnetic bead enrichment being required. It is therefore incredibly exciting that our IMANs, which we have designed to overcome many of the challenges with other cell therapies, can now also be made with an even lower cost of goods from iPSCs. We have moved another step forward to not just aiming to cure cancers but to make curing cancer affordable.”
The iPSC work underpins the company’s ‘fast-to-market’ commercial strategy of using its iN-LIfT platform to provide the most scalable and cost-effective therapy possible for patients without delaying how fast they can get to market.
LIfT BioSciences is progressing its HSC derived first generation product in a phase I trial next year to answer key questions on dosing, administration, lymphodepletion levels and predictive assays. It will then progress the main second-generation iPSC derived product straight into a Phase Ib/II trial with many of the basic questions having already been answered on this first-in-class therapy to maximize the likelihood of success in achieving efficacy for its main iPSC derived CAR-IMAN product.
Earlier this year, LIfT BioSciences announced data showing potent killing of pancreatic cancer tumoroids. It also revealed a breakthrough in treating solid tumors.