Medigene publicizes new bioinformatics tool to predict potential cross-reactivity of cancer and virus antigens
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Medigene AG /
Medigene publicizes new bioinformatics tool to predict potential
cross-reactivity of cancer and virus antigens
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Article in "Bioinformatics" published in collaboration with scientists from
Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München
Martinsried/Munich, 16 September 2016. Medigene AG (MDG1, Frankfurt, Prime
Standard), a clinical stage immuno-oncology company focusing on the development
of T-cell immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, announced that a
scientific article on the assessment of cancer and virus antigens for cross-
reactivity in human tissues has been published in the current issue of
"Bioinformatics" (Oxford Journals: doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btw567). The
research results show how closely matching naturally occurring self-antigens for
a given sequence of a therapeutic antigen (or epitope) can be predicted by an
algorithm using curated datasets. After filtering for predicted immunogenicity,
the output results show up as an index and profile of cross-reactivity to the
self-antigens in 22 human tissues. This innovative prediction tool allows
Medigene to analyze safety and toxicity issues of TCR candidates at an early
stage.
Compared to "Expitope", the well-established bioinformatic tool elaborated by
the same collaboration between TUM and Medigene, the "iCrossR" algorithm
published here works on actual peptide expression levels and advances the
analysis to a higher level: Instead of basing the analysis on mRNA expression
data, "iCrossR" directly investigates the actual protein data in 22 human
tissues. The score resulting from such an analysis describes the potential risk
of cross reactivity of TCR candidates against healthy tissues and helps to
positively select those that are the most promising. Furthermore, "iCrossR"
allows for sorting against potential off-target activity of TCRs caused by
mismatches among epitopes.
Prof. Dr. Dolores J. Schendel, CEO and CSO of Medigene AG explains: "Cross-
reactivity of epitopes can cause severe side effects in adoptive immunotherapies
directed against selected antigens. With the new in silico research tool
"iCrossR" described in this publication, we are able to predict cross-reactivity
of on-target and off-target toxicities, helping us in the early selection of
safer therapeutically relevant target antigens. "
Prof. Dmitrij Frishman, Lab Head of the Department of Bioinformatics at the
Technical University Munich (TUM) and working group leader in Institute of
Bioinformatics and System Biology (IBIS) at Helmholtz Zentrum München, adds: "In
this work, we exclusively focused on assessing the antigens binding to the MHC-I
molecules, as this mechanism of immune response involves natural peptides
originating inside the cell. Our protocol is aimed to help in development of
better immunotherapies, to improve safety, and to avoid or minimize undesirable
autoimmune side effects."
The article entitled "Assessment of cancer and virus antigens for cross-
reactivity in human tissues" can be found here online:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27614350 .
The results have been generated in a research alliance since 2013 between Prof.
Dmitrij Frishman and his scientific co-workers, in close cooperation with Prof.
Dolores J. Schendel, CEO and CSO of Medigene AG and her research team.
About Medigene's TCR technology:
The TCR technology aims at arming the patient's own T cells with tumor-specific
T-cell receptors. The receptor-modified T cells are then able to detect and
efficiently kill tumor cells. This immunotherapy approach attempts to overcome
the patient's tolerance towards cancer cells and tumor-induced immunosuppression
by activating and modifying the patient's T cells outside the body (ex-vivo). A
large number of specific T cells to fight the tumor is thereby made available to
patients within a short period of time.
Medigene's technology for T-cell receptor-modified T cells is one of the
company's highly innovative and complementary immunotherapy platforms for
adoptive T-cell therapy. The TCR therapy is designed to treat patients with high
tumor loads. Medigene is preparing the clinical development of its first TCR
candidates and is developing a library of recombinant T-cell receptors.
Moreover, a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant process for their
combination with patient-derived T cells is currently being established.
Medigene plans to commence its first own clinical TCR trials in 2017 and a
second in 2018.
Medigene AG is a publicly listed (Frankfurt: MDG1, prime standard) biotechnology
company headquartered in Martinsried near Munich, Germany. The company is
developing highly innovative complementary treatment platforms to target various
types and stages of cancer with candidates in clinical and pre-clinical
development. Medigene concentrates on the development of personalized T cell-
based immunotherapies.
For more information, please visit www.medigene.com
This press release contains forward-looking statements representing the opinion
of Medigene as of the date of this release. The actual results achieved by
Medigene may differ significantly from the forward-looking statements made
herein. Medigene is not bound to update any of these forward-looking statements.
Medigene® is a registered trademark of Medigene AG. This trademark may be owned
or licensed in select locations only.
Contact Medigene
Julia Hofmann, Dr. Robert Mayer
Tel.: +49 - 89 - 20 00 33 - 33 01
Email: investor(at)medigene.com
Should you no longer wish to receive any information about Medigene, please
inform us by e-mail (investor(at)medigene.com). We will then delete your address
from our distribution list.
Press release English PDF:
http://hugin.info/132073/R/2042532/762378.pdf
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The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Medigene AG via GlobeNewswire
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 16.09.2016 - 07:30 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 495160
Anzahl Zeichen: 6923
contact information:
Town:
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Kategorie:
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