Project description
Bispecific antibodies against immune evasion in cancer
Cancer cells evade immune responses through various mechanisms, including downregulation of antigen presentation and upregulation of immune checkpoint molecules to suppress immune activation. They also overexpress glycans on their surface and create an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment by recruiting regulatory T-cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. To activate the immune system against cancer, the ERC-funded BiParatopic project aims to develop bispecific bi-paratopic antibodies that target two distinct epitopes on immune-suppressive receptors. Researchers will test the anti-cancer efficacy of this dual epitope targeting lung cancer models. The goal is to develop novel immunotherapies against cancers that exhibit resistance to current modalities.
Objective
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer therapy, yet the majority of patients do not respond to current treatments, such as PD-1/PD-L1blockade. In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), over 70% of patients experience immune evasion mechanisms that prevent effective immune activation. One such mechanism involves the overexpression of glycans on tumor cells, which can modulate immune responses. In this project, we propose to develop novel bispecific bi-paratopic antibodies that simultaneously target two distinct epitopes of the target. This innovative approach is designed to provide a more comprehensive blockade of immune-suppressive functions by dual engagement of the receptor. Our bispecific antibodies will be engineered and optimized to target different epitopes, enhancing their ability to restore immune function. The project will involve the engineering, structural characterization, and functional validation of the bispecific antibodies, followed by preclinical efficacy studies in NSCLC models. By this approach, these antibodies have the potential to overcome the limitations of existing immunotherapies, offering a new therapeutic option for cancer patients who are resistant to current treatments. In addition to the scientific development, this ERC PoC project is designed to develop a robust commercialization strategy, with the potential for patent filings and engagement with pharmaceutical partners. Our vision is to bring these bispecific antibodies to the clinic, ultimately aiming to improve outcomes for patients with NSCLC and other cancers.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology lung cancer
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules carbohydrates
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology immunotherapy
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-POC
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
48160 DERIO VIZCAYA
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.