NorthWest Biotherapeutics Inc (NWBO)

[survivor1x]

"There is a reason why the likes of BNTX/RHHBY, GRTS, GNCA and MRNA/MRK are selecting which neoantigens to target with their vaccines."

Because they think they are smarter than the immune system that has evolved over eons to pick up the perfect antigen set per patient per tumor. - I mean if you could match patients to multiple antigens and then follow back up with new antigens once those are down regulated. Seems like a lot of work instead of working with nature.

If you look at some of the patents you will see that NWBO is also working with T cells. These T cells would be matured in the presence of the DCells that have taken up antigens from the patients tumor. (Psuedo CarT) if you will.

I am not saying the DC VAX will be the end all be all but a very important piece in the treatment of solid tumors. IMO. CI's and other inhibitors maybe required to tie up the tumors to let the immune system attack unabated.

There was a slide from UAB that I think LL mentioned macrophages that were defending the tumor from the immune system.

Why hasn't DC vaccination worked so well in the past-

1. Picking a few antigens that may not be patient specific or are downregulated instead of a full set of patient specific (and DC has worked, with Provenge, including showing antigen spread is occurring).

2. Not having a mature understanding of the perfect timing of antigen uptake and maturation of DCells after that to be pro inflammatory.

Not all Dendritic Cell Vaccines are the same. Even the two methods in direct have shown this.

It is all exciting. I think CARts are great for Homogeneous tumors if they can limit the safety issues. But I do think there will be challenges in solid tumors with this approach.