Diagnosis test for immuno-oncology therapies.

Project Information

IMMUNOTRAP

Grant agreement ID: 877430

DOI

10.3030/877430

Project closed

EC signature date 2 August 2019

Start date 1 September 2019

End date 29 February 2020

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

IMPETUX OPTICS SL
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - IMMUNOTRAP (Diagnosis test for immuno-oncology therapies.)

Reporting period: 2019-09-01 to 2020-02-29

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

CAR-T cells therapies are one of the most disrupting personalized immuno-oncology therapies. The main current risk of CAR-T treatments is their toxicity. CAR-Ts are very effective against tumor cells but, they are likewise effective against healthy tissue, what makes them toxic for the patient. There are few methodologies to assess effectiveness but toxicity is more difficult to evaluate. The solution we propose to assess toxicity/side effects of CAR-Ts in pre-clinical phases is based upon the characterization of the “functional affinity” between CAR-Ts and target cells measuring the interaction force between them using IMPETUX’s technology. The possibility of predicting toxicity with a unique test could help developers to screen and select their best and safest CAR-T candidates for clinical trials thus reducing costs, risks and saving lifes.
The objectives of the action were to understand the addressed market, determine potential risks and barriers for commercializing the proposed solution and confirm the profitability of the business idea.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

We planned 3 tasks: 1) The validation of the technical features of IMPETUX’s Technology in collaboration with potential customers: the results obtained indicate the technology can solve the problem. Nonetheless, the ultimate validation will require a clinical trial. 2) A market study to validate the profitability of the business idea: we have interviewed key market players like governmental institutions, Hospital researchers and industry players, extended the information with secondary sources like accessible databases or market research reports and finally we have also deeply analyzed potential competing solutions. 3) the quantification of the investment required to carry out the business idea and the potential profit that it can offer.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

A CAR-T cell therapy is currently very expensive due to the investment required to develop it. The risk reduction of this development thanks to the evaluation of the potential toxicity of CAR-T candidates before entering clinical trials will have benefit in two different axes. 1) It will help to perform safer clinical trials of new engineered CAR-T drugs for patients. 2) This valuable information will save time and money to developers what will ultimately lead to a reduction of therapy prices. In the world transition to personalized medicine, many other diseases less deadly but of relevant related with immune system disorders will benefit from the promising CAR-T cell therapies.

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