Turnstone Biologics Partners with Moffitt Cancer Center to Advance Novel TIL Immunotherapies for Solid Tumors
Turnstone Biologics
Oncolytic Virus Immunotherapy Researcher
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
As the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Florida and one of only 30 leading cancer centers in the United States participating in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute stands at the forefront of global cancer centers in pioneering advancements such as CAR-T cell therapy. H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute is dedicated to patient health and safety. This is why we think and act differently, matching patients’ courage with our own bold innovation, so that we can save more lives by providing the best possible care. As evidenced by our numerous awards and recognitions, we take pride in having earned top honors across many fields. H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute is committed to a significant mission: the prevention and treatment of cancer. As an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute joins an elite group of cancer centers nationwide, focusing on rapidly translating research advances into improved patient care.
Today, Turnstone Biologics announced a multi-year strategic research collaboration with Moffitt Cancer Center to jointly advance research on tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy. This collaboration will focus on utilizing Turnstone’s next-generation TIL manufacturing strategy to develop innovative therapeutic candidates for the treatment of various solid tumor types and to support the IND application for the company’s lead TIL program, TIDAL-01.
TILs are lymphocytes that migrate to tumors and attack them when cancer occurs. However, the number of TILs in patients is usually insufficient to eliminate tumors, and the tumor microenvironment can suppress the function of TILs. Current TIL therapy involves extracting tumor tissue from patients and isolating TILs, which are then expanded in vitro using the cytokine IL-2. This in vitro stimulation not only increases the number of TILs but also activates their anti-tumor capabilities. This TIL therapy has shown promising activity in treating cancer types such as melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer.
Turnstone’s proprietary technology platform combines methods to discover tumor-associated T cells in TIL with advanced cell screening and culture techniques, enabling the rapid enrichment of tumor-destroying T cells while preserving the diversity of T-cell-targeted antigens and reducing the manufacturing time for TIL therapy. The company's lead therapy, TIDAL-01, is expected to enter clinical trials in early 2022.
▲Turnstone's TIL Technology Platform (Source: Turnstone Official Website)
According to the agreement, Moffitt will collaborate to discover, enrich, and expand TILs that identify neoantigens across multiple solid tumors, including melanoma, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. Turnstone Biologics will license its proprietary TIL production process to Moffitt for generating cell therapies to support future clinical studies of Turnstone’s candidate therapies. Turnstone will provide R&D funding for this collaboration.
References:
[1] Turnstone Biologics Announces Research Collaboration with Moffitt Cancer Center to Advance Novel TIL Immunotherapies for Solid Tumor Indications. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211129005249/en/Turnstone-Biologics-Announces-Research-Collaboration-with-Moffitt-Cancer-Center-to-Advance-Novel-TIL-Immunotherapies-for-Solid-Tumor-Indications
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