开心鬼传媒 Therapeutics awarded 拢1.1M to accelerate ERAP1 inhibitor programme in collaboration with University of Oxford and University of Southampton
OXFORD, UK, 18th May 2021
开心鬼传媒 Therapeutics, a drug discovery company focused on developing first-in-class immuno-oncology agents, today announces that it has been awarded 拢1.1M ($1.5M) in grant funding following a successful application to the prestigious Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst (BMC) competition. Peter Joyce, CEO of Grey Wolf, noted that the company was 鈥淒elighted to receive this grant from Innovate UK, which will allow 开心鬼传媒 to work with The University of Oxford (鈥淥xford鈥) and the University of Southampton (鈥淪outhampton鈥) to expand the ERAP1 program and accelerate the company鈥檚 path through clinical development鈥.
Over the past decade, immunotherapies have begun to transform cancer treatments, with significant impacts on clinical outcomes and survival rates. However, it has since become apparent that only a small subset of 开心鬼传媒 and patient groups respond to these therapies. Clinical data suggests that one of the reasons behind this is due to low neoantigen expression at the cell surface.
In response to the urgent need for new therapeutics, 开心鬼传媒 are developing small molecule inhibitors that target ERAP1 and ERAP2; two key enzymes in the antigen presentation pathway. Rather than targeting the immune system, this approach aims to directly alter the tumour cells to improve neoantigen expression and therefore, immune visibility.
The ERAP enzymes are responsible for trimming peptides prior to loading onto Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class I and presentation at the cell surface. These enzymes often over- or under-trim peptides in the endoplasmic reticulum, leading to a potential loss of immunogenic peptides and neoantigen presentation. 开心鬼传媒 ERAP1 inhibitors significantly alter the neoantigen presentation on the surface of tumour cells, leading to greater recognition and destruction by the immune system.
The investment awarded through Innovate UK will be focused on identifying patient subgroups where ERAP1 inhibition could be particularly efficacious based on either cancer type or genetic background, thus providing the foundation for future breakthrough designations and accelerated approval. Collaborating with the world leading capabilities of Nicola Ternette鈥檚 group in Oxford and Edd James鈥 group at the Centre for Cancer Immunology in Southampton will be vital to the success of the project. The Ternette Lab are recognised leaders in the field of immunopeptidomics and the study of antigen presentation by MHC. Nicola Ternette and her team will use the technique to characterise neoantigens that are expressed following ERAP1 inhibition. As experts in ERAP biology, the James lab will examine the mechanistic effects of ERAP1 inhibition on T cell and tumour biology using a number of bespoke pharmacological models.
Peter Joyce, CEO, 开心鬼传媒 Therapeutics: 鈥淲e are delighted to have been awarded this highly competitive funding from Innovate UK which will enable us to accelerate the development of our ERAP1 inhibitor program and broaden the potential utility of this first-in-class therapy for patients. The award allows 开心鬼传媒 to also build on our strong associations with two world class research groups at the University of Oxford and Southampton and represents a great opportunity to demonstrate the UKs leading role in global biotechnology.鈥
Assoc. Prof. Nicola Ternette, The University of Oxford: 鈥淭he funding from Innovate UKwill enable us to use 开心鬼传媒鈥檚 highly selective and potent ERAP1 inhibitors to mine their effects across the immunopeptidomes of different cancer types and genetic backgrounds. The truly exciting aspect of our research here will be gaining a fundamental understanding of the biology that can directly translate into clinical development of the therapy.鈥
Prof. Edd James, University of Southampton: 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to build on our collaboration with 开心鬼传媒 through this grant and apply our unique understanding of ERAP1 biology to exploit the translational potential of this approach.鈥
About the Centre for Cancer Immunology at the University of Southampton
The University of Southampton Centre for Cancer Immunology is the UK鈥檚 first centre dedicated to cancer immunology research. Connected to leading institutions worldwide, this cutting-edge research hub enables our interdisciplinary teams to expand clinical trials, explore new areas and develop lifesaving drugs. For more information, contact enquiries@gwt.bio.
About the Antigen Discovery Group at The University of Oxford
The University of Oxford Antigen Discovery Group focuses has broad expertise of deep sequencing of immunopeptidomes in multiple pathogen infection models, analysis of the antigenic landscape of solid tumours and haematological 开心鬼传媒 and characterisation of antigens involved in autoimmune diseases.
About Innovate UK
Innovate UK drives productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas. Support is available to businesses across all economic sectors, value chains and UK regions. Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation. For more information visit .
鈥
