Geneius Biotechnology, Inc, a Massachusetts-based biopharmaceutical company, announced at the MedInvest Infectious Disease & Immunology Conference on June 16, 2020, that it was deploying its T-cell cancer technology to treat and prevent SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).
The Company said that vaccines against viruses have classically focused on the generation of protective antibodies, but effective, long-lasting immunity against the coronaviruses may require T-cell immunity. Sub-optimal T-cell responses to SARS-CoV-2, for example, are related to severity of disease in animal models, whereas T-cell memory could be detected 4 years after infection with SARS-CoV-1. Studies of one of the leading vaccine candidates demonstrated it prevented pneumonia in monkeys but did not eliminate the virus in the nose. Finally, there is a well-described phenomenon of antibody-dependent enhancement (“ADE”) that makes COVID19 symptoms worse.
Even if the vaccines can elicit the needed T-cell as well as antibody responses, moreover, patients whose immune systems are compromised, such as those with chronic illness, those receiving cancer treatment, and the elderly, may not respond to the standard vaccine approach. Moreover, some people with underlying illnesses, such as heart disease, may not tolerate ADE.
Geneius reported it had developed an efficient manufacturing process that can create and fine-tune a T-cell response to viral proteins. Indeed, the Company said it is applying that manufacturing process to a set of targets on lymphoma that are actually viral proteins, so that it expects a seamless transition from it T-cell production methods for that indication to make T-cells against SARS-CoV-2.
Geneius said it would produce T-cells from each person’s white cells against targets associated with viral elimination and expect those T-cells to provide protection and long-term memory. The Company also plans to develop multiple T-cell lines that can be used “off-the-shelf” to treat mild-to-moderate infections, with the goal of eliminating the acute infection.Every layout comes with the latest social features built in. Readers can easily share posts on social networks like Facebook and Twitter and view how many people have liked a post, made comments and more.