AbCellera Presents New Data on T-Cell Engager Platform at AACR 2023
AbCellera (Nasdaq: ABCL) presented new findings on its T-cell engager (TCE) platform at the AACR Annual Meeting 2023 in Orlando, Florida, from April 14-19. The data highlighted the company's novel CD3-binding antibodies, revealing their superior binding and functional characteristics compared to existing antibodies used in TCE development. Key findings include the ability to create optimized TCEs designed for various tumor types, showcasing high potency and minimal cytokine release from engineered TCEs. Additionally, AbCellera reported the discovery of antibodies targeting the MAGE-A4 peptide-MHC complex, which may enable treatment of solid tumors while minimizing impact on healthy tissue. The advancements in AbCellera's platform aim to expedite the development of effective cancer therapies.
- Presentation of new data on TCE platform at AACR Annual Meeting 2023 indicates strong progress.
- Novel CD3-binding antibodies exhibit superior binding and functional properties compared to existing antibodies.
- Ability to engineer optimized TCEs with high potency and low cytokine release for diverse tumor targets.
- Discovery of antibodies targeting MAGE-A4 may enable treatment for solid tumors, enhancing development prospects.
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- In-depth characterization of CD3-binding antibodies reveals molecules with binding and functional properties that are differentiated from antibodies commonly used for T-cell engager development
- Discovery of antibodies with high specificity for a peptide-MHC complex demonstrates capabilities for development of T-cell engagers against challenging cancer targets
“T-cell engagers are amongst the most promising new modalities in cancer therapy. The robust characterization of our novel CD3-binding antibodies in both mono- and bispecific formats illustrates that we can engineer optimal TCEs by fine-tuning tumor cell killing and cytokine release,” says
First, AbCellera demonstrated that its panel of novel, fully human CD3-binding antibodies can build optimized TCEs that have functional profiles superior to benchmark molecules. The presentation included:
- A comprehensive data package on a panel of CD3-binding antibodies, including binding and functional comparisons to molecules commonly used for TCE development.
- Two proof-of-concept studies in which novel CD3-binding antibodies were used to engineer TCEs for different tumor targets. The resulting TCEs included bispecific antibodies with high potencies and low cytokine release in in vitro assays. Differences in T-cell function across tumor targets emphasized the importance of selecting the right CD3- and tumor-binding antibodies for an optimal TCE. These data demonstrate how AbCellera’s novel CD3-binding antibodies enable development of custom-built TCEs for different tumor targets.
In another poster, AbCellera described the discovery of highly specific and developable antibodies against a validated peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) tumor target. Melanoma-associated antigen 4 (MAGE-A4) is a tumor-specific antigen expressed by many solid tumors, but not by most healthy tissue. Effectively targeting pMHCs presenting tumor-specific antigens with TCEs could unlock tumor targets that are expressed inside the cell, which are generally inaccessible with this modality. AbCellera used its antibody discovery and development engine to generate antibodies that bind to MAGE-A4-pMHC. Strategic selection and pairing of AbCellera’s target- and CD3-binding antibodies has the potential to power the discovery of optimal TCEs targeting MAGE-A4-pMHC.
“In late 2021, we recognized a gap that was preventing powerful TCE cancer treatments from making it to patients and felt confident that our antibody discovery and development engine could provide the solution,” said
AbCellera’s poster presentations are available for viewing here.
About T-Cell Engagers
CD3 T-cell engagers are bispecific antibodies that guide the immune system to find and eliminate cancer cells by binding both cancer-killing T cells and tumor targets at the same time. Developing effective T-cell engagers requires two parental antibodies — a CD3-binding arm that fine-tunes T cell activation and a tumor-binding arm with high specificity for cancer cells. The small number of available CD3-binding antibodies that can effectively fine-tune T-cell responses has been a barrier to T-cell engager development. To address this barrier, AbCellera developed a complete T-cell engager platform that includes fully human, developable CD3-binding antibodies with unique binding and functional properties. By combining these antibodies with OrthoMabTM, its clinically validated multispecific engineering platform, and its antibody discovery and development engine, AbCellera’s T-cell engager platform is breaking the barriers of conventional discovery to bring new cancer medicines to the clinic faster.
About
AbCellera is breaking the barriers of conventional antibody drug discovery to bring better medicines to patients, sooner. AbCellera’s engine integrates expert teams, technology, and facilities with the data science and automation needed to propel antibody-based medicines from target to clinic in nearly every therapeutic area with precision and speed. AbCellera provides innovative biotechs and leading pharmaceutical companies with a competitive advantage that empowers them to move quickly, reduce cost, and tackle the toughest problems in drug development. For more information, please visit www.abcellera.com.
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