On March 4, 2024 Biomunex Pharmaceuticals, a French biopharmaceutical company specialized in the development of cutting-edge therapies through the discovery and development of bi- and multi-specific antibodies for the treatment of cancer, reported the signature of an exclusive license and exploitation agreement with Institut Curie (Press release, BIOMUNEX Pharmaceuticals, MAR 4, 2024, View Source [SID1234640747]). This agreement covers the development of a new class of antibodies, capable of specifically targeting and engaging MAIT cells to kill cancer cells. Biomunex, which was already co-inventor and a 50% co-owner of this unique innovative approach, now holds full worldwide rights.

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First identified and described in 1999 by Dr. Olivier Lantz, Director of the Clinical Immunology Laboratory at Institut Curie and scientific advisor to Biomunex, MAIT cells are a subpopulation of non-conventional T cells found throughout the body, particularly in mucosal and barrier tissues. MAIT cells are potent cytotoxic T cells capable of proliferating, migrating and infiltrating solid tumors.

Biomunex’s objective is to use these unique properties to develop MAIT engagers, a new class of antibodies capable of redirecting MAIT lymphocytes to eliminate cancer cells and induce the destruction of tumors, particularly solid tumors, while significantly reducing "dose-limiting" toxicity. This novel approach should also reduce the risk of cytokine release syndrome1, a serious adverse event often observed in immunotherapies based on T cell redirection targeting CD3, which are widely used today in cancer treatment.

In addition, MAIT cells present the MDR-12 protein on their surface, providing them with a natural resistance to some major chemotherapies. This property could enable the combination of MAIT engagers with chemotherapy, or their use directly before or after treatment: a key advantage compared with other T cell engagers.

This new approach has been developed through several collaborations with the Cancer Immunotherapy Center (Institut Curie, Inserm) headed by Dr. Sebastian Amigorena, Biomunex’s scientific advisor, and Dr. Olivier Lantz’s team at Institut Curie.

Building on its collaboration with Institut Curie, France’s first and leading cancer research center, and its advanced work on MAIT cells, Biomunex should soon initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial for the evaluation of its first MAIT engager in the treatment of solid tumors with a high unmet medical need, and in which MAIT cells are particularly present (e.g. colorectal, liver, gastric, lung, esophageal cancers, etc.). Biomunex currently develops two MAIT engager programs in preclinical stage with several others in discovery. Biomunex is currently expanding this approach in several directions (e.g. novel antibodies targeting MAIT cells, trispecific engagers, etc.).

"We are very pleased to announce the signing of this major agreement with Institut Curie, a leading institute in global oncology research and a major historical partner of Biomunex", said Dr. Pierre-Emmanuel Gerard, Founder and CEO of Biomunex. Dr. Simon Plyte, Chief Scientific Officer of Biomunex, added: "This agreement positions Biomunex as the world’s leading player in the disruptive field of MAIT engagers, based on the unique BiXAb best-in-class bi- and multi-specific antibody platform."

"The development of new immunotherapy approaches in oncology has become a key challenge if we are to provide an answer to the millions of cancer patients for whom standard treatments can no longer do anything," continued Dr. Sebastian Amigorena. "The research performed at Institut Curie has led to a major discovery which now opens up promising new therapeutic options. This agreement will enable Biomunex to initiate clinical development to harness the unique properties of MAIT cells and thus bring to life this breakthrough therapies for the benefit of patients", concluded Dr. Olivier Lantz.