Breakthrough in the fight against cancer
Innovative technology for our cancer immunotherapy
2 targets – 2 signals for a better world
A game changer in cancer immunotherapy
There have been many successes in cancer research and cancer therapy in recent years. Despite this, according to the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, over 231,000 people in Germany died from a tumour disease in 2022 alone. Thanks to medical progress, improved prevention and early diagnosis, however, cancer mortality is falling. At BiconY we work every day to improve those figures!
In our research, it is mainly the B7-H3 protein that has attracted our interest. It occurs on tumour cells in many different cancer types. With T cell-recruiting bispecific antibodies (bsAbs), this is an area where we can really get involved and achieve positive results. Bispecific antibodies have been used successfully in haematological malignancies for a long time. In solid tumours, however, they have been too inefficient, much like the closely related CAR T cells. That is where we come in!
Existing T cell mobilisation strategies still have substantial side effects. The innovative oncological treatments we are researching are expected to provide a significant increase in efficiency while helping to improve the quality of life of cancer patients.
Our approach explained by Prof. Dr. Helmut Salih M.D.
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More InformationAlways on the ball in cancer research
Our expert team is researching and developing a bispecific antibody combination to treat solid tumours. Our specially developed “2 targets – 2 signals” approach consists of proprietary bispecific CD3 antibodies (bsAbCD3) and bispecific CD28 costimulators (BiCos). When used in combination, these can substantially improve the specificity, sustainedness and efficiency of T cell recruitment and thus the immune response to tumour cells. Our research and development is aimed at providing evidence of the efficacy of bispecific antibody therapy in the form of two clinical phase I/IIa studies.
Challenges of cancer immunotherapy
The BiCo concept originally developed by Twyce has the potential to revolutionise cancer research in Germany. The research approach addresses three main problems in successfully combating solid tumours:
- clinical studies show that therapy with bsAbs (bispecific antibodies) and CAR T cells does not have the same efficacy in solid tumours as it does in haematological malignancies.
- There are often not enough tumour-specific target structures, which can lead to T cells being activated throughout the body, including in healthy tissue.
- This can result in problems finding the correct dose and cause dangerous side effects.
Successful interaction of bsAbs
What is special about our approach? The bispecific antibodies used provide the first signal by stimulating CD3, a transmembrane protein of T lymphocytes. So the protein is the player who makes the crucial pass. Secondly, the important second signal is provided through combination with bispecific costimulators (BiCos), which are administered simultaneously. The BiCos can be thought of as the forward who takes and converts the pass.
The approach improves tumour-specificity by targeting two different antigens that both occur on the carcinoma cells but do not overlap in healthy tissue. Both bsAbs are administered simultaneously and are dependent on each other. Careful planning and selection of suitable bsAbs allows us to be certain that their biological activity depends heavily on binding to the target antigen. In brief, we are dealing with a team that is highly proficient at fighting cancer at the molecular level!
Through the targeted use of tumour-associated antigens (TAAs), we improve the access of T cells to solid tumours. Above all, however, BiCos prevent cell death and the weakening of T cells, which occur with CD3 activation alone. This triggers an intensified and sustained immune response to the tumour. Ideally, this results not only in optimally effective tumour cell killing, but also in sustained Science shoots and it scores!
Our response to cancer
Unlike in the case of CAR T cells, costimulation with bsAbs has so far received little attention in the science world. Although bispecific CD28 antibodies were introduced many years ago, there were problems preventing clinical development.
On the basis of an in-house bsAbs format, BiconY is developing improved CD3-stimulating bsAbs as well as a BiCo format with strictly target cell-specific activity. This IgG-based format combines the advantages of a long half-life with bivalent CD3 or CD28 binding in a way that fully maintains target cell restriction. If these BiCos are used according to a combinatorial approach, they can significantly improve the specificity and efficiency of CD3-stimulating bsAbs. In summary, the properties of this novel BiCo technology are highly promising when it comes to overcoming the profound limitations of existing immunotherapeutic strategies and raising T cell-based immunotherapy to an unprecedented level.
The concrete goals of our research… are:
- to provide clinical proof of concept for our bispecific antibody combination CC-1 and BiCo-1 in prostate carcinoma
- to provide clinical proof of concept for our bispecific antibody combination CC-1 and BiCo-3 in gastrointestinal carcinoma
- to drive the development of novel BiCos and bsAbs that are targeted at additional TAAs
- to bring to market a platform technology that uses specific TCR ligands instead of conventional CD3 signals and tumour cell-restricted checkpoint inhibition
Despite the sometimes impressive efficacy of previously approved oncological therapies, there is a clear medical need to improve treatment for solid tumours. We are working to develop therapies that are aimed at inducing novel tumour-specific T cell responses, and that represent crucial progress in the field of cancer research.
FAQ
Answers to your most important questions about the technology developed by BiconY
What is the BiCo technology developed by BiconY Therapeutics and how is it contributing to progress in cancer immunotherapy?
The BiconY BiCo technology is an innovative approach to tumour therapy. It is intended to address the three main problems of fighting solid tumours: a lack of T cell infiltration, toxicity due to a lack of tumour-specificity and a lack of costimulatory signal. Thanks to the combination of bispecific CD3 antibodies (bsAbCD3) and bispecific CD28 costimulators (BiCos), this technology significantly improves tumour therapy.
How does BiconY’s “2 targets” strategy contribute to the revolution in the fight against cancer?
BiconY’s goal is the targeted fighting of cancer. We do this through our “2 targets – 2 signals” approach, which attacks and destroys tumour cells in a direct and targeted way.
Why is “signal 2” so important in tumour therapy?
“Signal 2” is crucial for lasting anti-tumour immunity. Our signal 1, CD3 stimulation, is the player who passes the ball to the forward (the BiCos) to score the deciding goal. This prevents activation-dependent cell death and T cell anergy, leading to strengthened and lasting anti-tumour immunity.
Goooooal!!!
