Collaboration formed for the development of Treg cells

A biotechnology company, TxCell, Inserm Transfert and Nantes University have signed a R&D collaboration agreement for the development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) engineered CD8+Treg cells (CAR-Tregs).

The collaboration covers R&D activities to take place between TxCell and the Center for Research in Transplantation and Immunology (CRTI), which is a research unit affiliated to both Inserm Transfert and Nantes University. Through this joint venture TxCells research efforts, which have been focused on engineered CD4+ Treg cells, exploring the therapeutic potential of engineered CD8+ Treg cells will be expanded.

“TxCell is now benefitting from the CRTI’s expertise on these novel CD8+ Treg cells in addition to the intellectual property secured in December 2016,” said François Meyer, head of research at TxCell. “Evaluating CAR-CD8+ Treg cells in preclinical models of transplantation and autoimmune diseases to confirm their therapeutic potential will continue to push development in key target markets for TxCell.”

“This collaboration with TxCell will help us set in concrete the clinical development of innovative therapies based on CAR-CD8+ Treg cells,” added Dr Carole Guillonneau, CRNS scientist and co-director of the CRTI team number 2. “We look forward to evaluating with TxCell the potential of tehse specific CAR-Tregs in the treatment of graft rejection and multiple sclerosis.”

In December last year, TxCell signed an agreement for the exclusive worldwide rights to two patent families covering the new type of CD8+ Tregs for all autoimmune diseases and transplantation-related disorders.