Project 7

Generation of hypoimmunogenic TCR or CAR cells from induced pluripotent stem cells

Academic Partner
Prof. Dr. med. Dirk H. Busch
Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene - TUM. Deputy Spokesman BAYCELLator
Industry Partner
Dr. Mine Bakar
Repairon Immuno

Mr. Prof. Dr. med. Kobold, Sebastian

Abt. Klinische Pharmakologie, Klinikum der Universität München

Prof. Dr. med. Michael von Bergwelt 

Medizinische Klinik III, KUM

Mr. Prof. Dr. med. Hudecek, Michael

Medizinische Klinik II, UKW

PD Dr. rer. nat. Thomas Nerreter 

Medizinische Klinik II, UKW

Project Summary

Chimeric antigen receptor-based immunocellular therapy has emerged as a groundbreaking advancement in the field of cancer treatment. Despite delivering remarkable clinical outcomes, therapies that rely on a patient's own cells face limitations due to extended manufacturing times, high costs, and the challenge of procuring an adequate number of cells from individuals who have undergone multiple rounds of prior chemotherapy. Off-the-shelf or allogeneic CAR cell products offer promising alternatives to address these associated challenges. Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells present a highly favorable cell source for cellular therapies, thanks to their unlimited capacity for proliferation, ease of genetic modification, and their ability to differentiate into immune cells, including T and NK cells. In the collaborative Baycellator project between TUM and Repairon Immuno, our shared objective is the development, production, and commercialization of iPS cell-derived immune cell products for innovative therapeutic solutions.

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2. Iriguchi, S. and Kaneko, S., Toward the development of true "off-the-shelf" synthetic T-cell immunotherapy. Review Cancer Sci, 2019. 110(1):16-22.

3. Li, Y. et al., Human iPSC-Derived Natural Killer Cells Engineered with Chimeric Antigen Receptors Enhance Anti-tumor Activity. Cell Stem Cell, 2018. 23(2):181-192.