Dinner Short Course (SC3)

Wednesday, August 29, 6:00-9:00 pm

Next-Generation Immunotherapies: Part 2

Please join us for a two-part dinner workshop series featuring presentations on the latest immunotherapy technologies from emerging companies. Learn about engineering the next-generation immunotherapies coming down the pipeline, including bi-specific and multi-specific antibody constructs, fully recombinant antibody prodrugs, innovative multivalent therapeutics, immunotherapeutic fusion proteins, antibody-drug conjugates, and other innovative approaches.

6:00 Dinner and Introductions

 Moderator: Bruce Roberts, PhD, CSO, Vedanta Biosciences

6:15 Targeted VH Humabodies as Novel Multifunctional Immunotherapies

Phil Bland-Ward, PhD, CSO, Crescendo Biologics

Crescendo Biologics is developing multifunctional Humabody therapeutics, with particular focus on novel mechanisms that simultaneously target tumours and activate tumour-specific T cells. Originating from the proprietary Crescendo Mouse platform, Humabody VH domains represent functional building blocks that Crescendo optimally configures to create innovative multivalent therapeutics. These include dual-checkpoint blockade, biparatopic tumour antigen targeting, and Humabody Drug Conjugate (HDC) biologics with outstanding therapeutic potential in cancer.

6:40 KAHR Medical Dual Signaling Proteins (DSP) Platform – The Next Generation of Cancer Immunotherapy

Adam Foley-Comer, MD, CMO, KAHR Medical, Ltd.

KAHR Medical is developing a novel drug platform based on bi-functional, immunotherapeutic fusion proteins. KAHR’s proprietary technology enables the construction of targeted biological drugs with two functional ends, which can simultaneously block and/or activate two reinforcing biological signals resulting in a synergistic outcome. This platform represents a new generation of ultra-active immunotherapeutic biological drugs rationally designed for the treatment of multiple cancer indications.

7:05 Hexavalent TNFR-SF Agonists: A Unique Class of Biologics for Cancer Immunotherapy

Christian Gieffers, PhD, Vice President, Analytics/Protein Chemistry, Apogenix

The technology platform developed by Apogenix is based on trivalent but single-chain molecular mimics of the TNF-SF Receptor binding domains (scTNFSF-RBDs) fused to a dimerization scaffold. This drug concept was successfully translated to CD40L, CD27L and GITRL. Being hexavalent by design, these fusion proteins are potent agonists on their own. They co-stimulate distinct immune cell types involved in the anti-tumor immune reaction thereby enabling exciting opportunities for combination treatment with other I-O drugs.

7:30 Coffee Break

7:45 Optimization of a Bispecific Anti-CD3 Antibody-Small Molecule Conjugate for the Treatment of Ovarian Cancer

Harun Rashid, PhD, Principal Scientist, Molecular Technology, Ambrx

Bispecific antibodies, which simultaneously target CD3 on T cells and tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) to recruit cytotoxic T cells to cancer cells, are a promising new approach for the treatment of various liquid and solid tumors. We recently described the synthesis of a chemically defined anti-CD3 Fab-folate conjugate that targets cytotoxic T cells to folate receptor positive (FR+) tumors. Here, we report further optimization of the anti-CD3 Fab-folate conjugate for optimal efficacy, reduced toxicity and optimal pharmacokinetic (PK) properties. To strike an optimal balance between efficacy and toxicity due to cytokine release syndrome (CRS), we fine-tuned the affinity of the anti-CD3 antibody as well as optimized the TAA binding. To increase the in vivo half-life (T1/2), we simultaneously conjugated both folate and PEG molecules of various sizes by the use of bi-functional linkers. The optimized conjugates showed potent and selective in vitro activity, good serum half-life, and potent in vivo activity in xenograft mouse models. This semisynthetic approach is likely to be applicable to the generation of additional anti-CD3 bispecific agents using small molecule ligands selective for other TAAs.

8:10 Enhancement of Anti-Tumor Immunity via Targeted Alteration of the Microbiome

Bruce Roberts, PhD, CSO, Vedanta Biosciences

Recent clinical data suggests a link between the microbiome and efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors. These observations suggest alteration of the microbiome via administration of live bacterial consortia may have beneficial effects. Vedanta has characterized immunostimulatory commensal compositions capable of inducing CD8 T cells in germ free mice. Results will be presented illustrating these T cell stimulatory consortia enhance anti-tumor efficacy when used in combination with checkpoint inhibitors in animal models.

8:35 Clinical Development of Dendritic Cell-Based Immunotherapies for Cancer

Marnix Bosch, PhD, Chief Technical Officer, Northwest Biotherapeutics

*Separate registration required for Short Courses.