NorthWest Biotherapeutics Inc (NWBO)

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Dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen-presenting cells (also known as accessory cells) of the mammalian immune system. Their main function is to process antigen material and present (also expressing costimulatory molecules simultaneosly) it on the cell surface to the T cells of the immune system. They act as messengers between the innate and the adaptive immune systems.

DCs manufactured using GM-CSF and IL-4 have been postulated to result in occasional DCs that bypass the lymph and go to the tumor updating more antigen (by killing tumor cells) then finally return to the lymph. It would be a bonus. It is not the MOA primarily suggested by NWBO or UCLA for DCVax-L.

For DCVax-L, the monocytes are differentiated into dendritic cells, and matured, activated and loaded with biomarkers (“antigens”) from the patient’s own tumor tissue (which is collected in a simple kit at the time of surgery to remove the tumor). The loading of biomarkers into the dendritic cells “educates” them about what the immune system needs to attack. The activated, educated dendritic cells are then isolated with very high purity and comprise the DCVax-L personalized vaccine. DCVax -L is administered to the patient through a simple intra-dermal injection in the upper arm, similar to a flu shot. The dendritic cells then convey the tumor biomarker information to the rest of the immune system agents (T cells, B cells and others), as “marching orders,” and the immune system agents then fan out through the body searching for anything with these biomarkers and attacking it.