Selexis and KBI Biopharma Partner with Immatics to Advance T-Cell Bispecific Program

On June 29, 2021, Selexis and KBI Biopharma (KBI), both JSR Life Sciences companies, announced that they signed service agreements with Immatics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in T-cell redirecting cancer immunotherapies, to use integrated services from Selexis and KBI to advance the development of IMA402, one of the candidates in Immatics’ T-cell receptor (TCR) bispecifics program, called T Cell Engaging Receptors (TCER). The program involves using TCR bispecifics that simultaneously recruit, activate, and stimulate the patient’s own T cells to detect, target, and attack tumor cells.

Under the agreements, Selexis will use its SUREtechnology Platform, and KBI will leverage its advanced analytics, process, formulation, and current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) manufacturing to advance IMA402 to the investigational new drug (IND) stage.

Immatics is developing TCR-based immunotherapies with an emphasis on solid tumors through two therapeutic modalities: adoptive cell therapies (ACTengine) and antibody-like TCR Bispecifics (TCER). Because of their different modes of action, these modalities are designed to expand the therapeutic value for patients across a broad range of tumor types and stages.

“Immatics is pushing beyond the limitations of traditional antibody-based therapies by investigating targets beyond the cell surface to treat solid tumors,” said Dirk Lange, CEO at Selexis and president and CEO at KBI Biopharma, in a company press release. “The integrated workflow between Selexis’ SUREtechnology Platform and KBI’s development approach and cGMP [m]anufacturing is designed to rapidly advance complex, novel product candidates towards [IND] submissions, while also providing a strong foundation for subsequent late-stage development and commercialization. We’re excited to work with Immatics as the company advances its TCR Bispecific candidate IMA402 towards the clinic.”

“Having delivered preclinical proof-of-concept for our TCR Bispecifics program IMA402 and having moved this program into GMP process development is a major achievement of Immatics,” said Sven Berger, CMC Project leader at Immatics, in the press release.

“We have chosen Selexis and KBI because of their expertise in the development and manufacturing of bispecific antibodies. We are looking forward to working with them on our path towards IND for IMA402,” added Michael Mølhøj, head of CMC Biologics at Immatics, in the press release.

Source: Selexis