Project description
Targeting endogenous retroviruses to destroy cancer cells
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERV) in the human genome remain transcriptionally silent under strict epigenetic regulation but can be activated by malignant transformation. The EU-funded CancERVacc project is supporting InProTher from Denmark in developing specific immunotherapy that targets endogenous retroviruses for cancer treatment. HERVs are expressed in several major cancers, such as breast, prostate, ovarian and pancreatic, and can be a potential target for the immune system in the destruction of tumour cells. The development of the technology is based on the engineering of HERV antigens as effective cancer vaccines. The administration of HERV-based antigens in the viral vectors might induce both strong antibody and T-cell immune responses capable of destroying cancer cells.
Objective
InProTher (IPT) is developing a unique immunotherapy – BreakImmune – that effectively targets endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) to treat cancer. HERVs are not expressed in normal tissues, but are expressed in several major cancers, such as breast (88%), prostate (90%), ovarian (90%), and pancreatic (80%). Thus, HERVs can be a potential target for the immune system to destroy tumor cells. IPT technology relies on the engineering of HERVK antigens to be used as effective cancer vaccines. The administration of BreakImmune, the mutated HERVK in Ad19/MVA viral vectors, induces both strong antibody and T-cell immune responses able to destroy cancer cells in multiple cancer types.
Our first product is IPT001, a first in class vaccine against solid cancers in combination with checkpoint inhibitors.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-AG - HORIZON Action Grant Budget-BasedCoordinator
2200 KOBENHAVN
Denmark
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.