Backpacks for CARs
Torque’s “backpacks” activate CAR T cells locally
Torque Therapeutics Inc. is making “backpacks” for immune cell therapies that release immune stimulatory molecules at particular doses and locations to boost the cells’ activity without risking systemic exposure. The technology could augment the success of CAR T’s against blood cancers and help overcome the immunosuppressive microenvironment that makes solid tumors so hard to treat.
President and co-founder Ulrik Nielsen told BioCentury that Torque’s platform -- dubbed Deep-Primed -- could be a gateway to the next generation of cell-based immunotherapies. “CARs are effective for limited patient populations because it’s hard to overcome immune suppression effects of tumors. Deep priming controls the T cell microenvironment and puts cells in an inflammatory microenvironment,” he said...