Pan Cancer T, a preclinical biotech focussing on the development of next-generation TCR-T treatments, has extended its collaboration with Leiden based NecstGen to include the development and clinical manufacturing of retroviral vectors. The parties have agreed to collaborate on the development of a novel retroviral vector manufacturing and testing process. The process will enable Pan Cancer T to utilise its licenced, stable producer technology to supply clinical vectors. Both companies expect this collaboration to improve efficiency beyond current market standards and reduce time/costs for cell-based therapies.

NecstGen will develop a suitable, scalable manufacturing process and testing procedure, establish a Master Cell Bank of the producer cell line, and be responsible for the clinical supply of viral vectors expressing the proprietary PCT-1:CO-STIM TCR construct. The vector is to be used for TRC-T cell production in trials targeting Triple Negative Breast Cancer. This announcement follows an earlier agreement between Pan Cancer T and NecstGen, in which the development of a commercially viable TCR-T cell production process was arranged.

Reinout Hesselink, VP of Process Development and CMC of Pan Cancer T said “We are very glad we have been able to extend our relationship with NecstGen to include the viral vector process. As both our vector- and our cell process are developed at the same CDMO, this agreement gives us the opportunity to develop a lean supply chain. This should speed up our clinical manufacturing capabilities.

The fact that we will be using a stable producer cell line, which allows for serum-free suspension culture, means that we will have a scalable, cost-efficient manufacturing process for one of our most critical materials”

Paul Bilars, CEO of NecstGen BV, added “This agreement confirms our position as a go-to CDMO for cell and gene therapies. After assisting Pan Cancer T with their cell manufacturing process, we will now assist them with establishing their viral vector process.

This vector manufacturing process is of interest for us, and our technical capabilities as a CDMO, not only for cellular drug products but also for vector products, will prove to be of value. We can run the process in our vector unit at different scales supporting preclinical, clinical and possibly commercial supply”

On Pan Cancer T

Pan Cancer T is an immunotherapy company developing next-generation TCR-T cell therapies for solid cancer.

The company’s technology is based on a form of adoptive T cell therapy in which a patient’s own T cells are equipped with a tumour specific, next-generation T cell receptor (TCR-T therapy). This approach improves the ability of the patient’s T cells to recognise and kill tumour cells and provides optimal fitness to T cells in the hostile tumor microenvironment (TME). Pan Cancer T’s lead clinical candidate, PCT1:CO-STIM, features an IP-protected T cell receptor (TCR), generated with the company’s validated TCR discovery platform, which is highly specific for ROPN1, a novel tumour-restricted target strongly expressed in over 90% of patients with triple negative breast cancer and melanoma. Moreover, it incorporates a proprietary TME solution, which provides co-stimulation to T cells, even in the hostile TME, resulting in significantly improved response duration in preclinical models.

The Company’s approach includes two differentiating elements. First, it exploits unique targets for T cells that are exclusively and robustly expressed by multiple solid cancers. Second, it develops technologies that enhance the durability of the T cells. The Company has ongoing R&D programs to develop safe and effective adoptive T cell therapies amenable to large cohorts of patients with triple negative breast cancer as well as cancers of the bladder, ovary, colorectum, prostate, skin, oesophagus, lung, or brain.

On NecstGen

The Netherlands Center for the Clinical Advancement of Stem Cell and Gene Therapies (NecstGen) comprises a state-of-the-art facility for development and GMP manufacturing. NecstGen additionally offers cleanroom rental to allow organisations to maintain control of production while de-risking the capital investment required.

NecstGen is open to the world and supports academic, small, and large industrial therapy developers to translate research and early-stage clinical programs into patient treatments. One of NecstGen’s primary aims is to support the development of therapeutics for orphan diseases that may be underserved but are nevertheless catastrophic to people who suffer from them.

NecstGen is a mission-driven CDMO owned by Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). This large-scale investment to support academia and industry was undertaken to address the barriers to entry for the creation of next-generation therapeutics, including:

• Investment: The high cost of capital equipment, facilities, research, and development.
• Limited capacity: Market availability of development and manufacturing slots.
• Know-how: Knowledge, expertise, and talent acquisition.
• Intellectual property: Complex ownership and control of the technologies required to realise new therapies successfully.