Project description
Engineered viruses against cancer
The relationship between microbial infections and tumour regression has been known since 3000 BC. Since then, various oncolytic viruses with therapeutic benefits have been reported. Although efficacy has improved using genetic engineering, we are still far from the clinical implementation of oncolytic viruses. The EU-funded UNLEASHAD project has developed an adenovirus-based oncolytic product, TILT-123, which specifically targets and lyses cancer cells. It also releases TNF-α and interleukin-2 cytokines into the microenvironment, providing an alert and attracting immune cells to the tumour. This strategy ensures anti-tumour immunity and may be suitable for tumours that are refractory to other types of immunotherapies.
Objective
TILT Biotherapeutics is developing a breakthrough oncolytic immunotherapy for treatment for cancer. Advanced solid tumors are currently incurable and limited treatment options are available – preclinical data on TILT technology suggests curative potential. There are over 9 million people dying from cancer each year and the incidence is growing rapidly. New immunotherapies for cancer are more widely available in America than in Europe partly because clinical research concentration in the U.S. Cancer patients also in Europe are in the increasing need of new treatment options.
The objective of this project is to generate a clinical proof-of-concept for the company’s lead product, TILT-123 alone and given with anti-PD(L)1 therapy in metastatic melanoma and other advanced solid tumors by completing Phase I clinical development. This project will last in total about 3,5 years and allow the company to confirm safety in human for TILT-123 as well as to generate mechanism of action data. Eventually, this could result in improved treatment responses in currently incurable anti-PD(L)1 refractory patients with melanoma and other solid tumor types.
TILT-123 is now entering clinical stage with all the key proof-of-concept and safety already demonstrated. Pilot and GMP-grade product production is completed and authorization for the first-in-man clinical trial in Denmark was obtained. EU support continues to be critical to launch this project onto clinical path. Actors from at least five different European countries are involved, underlining project’s EU-wide relevance. From the business perspective, this project would allow the company to mature into a stage from where its further development could be privately funded and supported by a pharmaceutical company. TILT Biotherapeutics will invest into further development of its pipeline projects, create more employment and business locally in Finland and Europe, and to bring an innovative treatment option with curative potential to the reach of European cancer patients.
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 skin cancer melanoma
- 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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H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges
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H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies
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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.
SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2
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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) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020
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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.
00290 Helsinki
Finland
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
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.