Project description
Oncolytic viruses against refractory cancers
Oncolytic viruses are natural or genetically engineered viruses that can infect and kill cancer cells. This immunotherapy approach functions on multiple levels, releasing tumour peptides and activating the immune system to fight cancer. Funded by the European Innovation Council, the I-CREATE project introduces an oncolytic adenovirus that delivers the human cytokines tumour necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-2. This solution attracts T cells at the tumour site and can be used in conjunction with other immunotherapies. The key objective of I-CREATE is to provide therapy for patients with cancers that are refractory to other treatments.
Objective
TILT Biotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel gene therapies for cancer. TILT’s lead asset, TILT-123, is an oncolytic adenovirus armed with two human cytokines: TNF alpha and IL-2. TILT-123 is now in several Phase 1 clinical trials in Europe, the U.S. and China. The asset has been tailored to immunologically heat up cold tumors. Multiple antitumor mechanisms are activated: direct immunogenic killing of cancer cells while sparing healthy cells, release of tumor epitopes, production of cytokines locally at the tumor, and stimulation of patient’s own immune system to attack cancer. This approach provides the tumor with presence of immune cells: a prerequisite for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) to work and benefit patients. The project objective is to provide a curative treatment option to patients with refractory cancer, such as the ovarian, head and neck, or lung cancer and secure a global pharmaceutical customer to take TILT-123 to the market.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-EIC-ACC-BF - HORIZON EIC Accelerator Blended FinanceCoordinator
00290 Helsinki
Finland
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.