Technology ID
TAB-1572
Methods for Expression and Purification of Immunotoxins
E-Numbers
E-043-1997-2
Lead Inventor
Neville, David (NIMH)
Applications
Therapeutics
Research Materials
Diagnostics
Therapeutic Areas
Oncology
Immunology
Lead IC
NIMH
ICs
NIMH
The invention concerns immunotoxins and methods of making the immunotoxins. Targeting of the immunotoxins occurs via an antibody that is specific to T cells. This allows the specific ablation of malignant T cells and resting T cells. The transient ablation of resting T cells can "reset" the immune system by accentuating tolerizing responses. As a result, the immunotoxin can be used to treat autoimmune disease, malignant T cell-related cancers, and graft-versus-host disease. The toxin portion of the immunotoxin is engineered to maintain bioactivity when produced in yeast, specifically Pichia pastoris. This system allows the production of dimeric antibody fragments with increased binding affinity and potency.
Commercial Applications
- Immunotoxins produced by this method can be used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, type I diabetes, aplastic anemia.
- Immunotoxins produced by this method can be used for treatment of T-cell leukemias and lymphomas such as cutaneous T cell leukemia/lymphoma (CTCL).
- Immunotoxins produced by this method can be used for increasing immune tolerance in patients requiring transplants/grafts.
Competitive Advantages
- Method produces GMP quality immunotoxin and can be scaled up to industry scales.
- Modified toxin moiety has reduced glycosylation in this system, resulting in a more effective and efficient immunotoxin.
- Immunotoxin doesn't produce the deleterious side-effects seen with other methods of treating autoimmune disease, malignant T cell leukemia/lymphoma and graft-versus-host disease.
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