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Background
Monoclonal antibodies are disease-targeting molecules which have enjoyed enormous success in the clinic and marketplace. For the twenty-one such drugs approved for clinical use, annual sales are approaching $20 billion. However, many valuable targets are inaccessible to monoclonal antibodies because they are not displayed on diseased cell surfaces. These antibody-inaccessible targets are processed into small peptides by the diseased cells and displayed in the context of a Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecule. Such antigen/MHC complexes are then recognized by antigen-specific T-cell receptor (TCR) molecules on T lymphocytes. The ability of TCRs to bind peptide antigens presented in the context of MHCs on tumor or virus-infected cells highlights their potential as targeting agents for cancer and viral therapeutics. Altor has captured this potential with the development of its proprietary STAR™ (Soluble T-cell Antigen Receptor) technology. |
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Altor's Approach
Altor has developed a unique proprietary technology for producing biologically active, soluble TCR molecules in a single-chain format. The resulting STAR™ fusion reagents retain the ability of the TCR to specifically recognize novel targets on virus-infected or cancerous cells, including intracellular antigens that are not accessible to therapeutic antibodies. Altor has developed antibody-like STAR™ fusions (-Ig) which function as therapeutics. STAR™ fusions are also ideally suited to deliver anti-cancer and anti-viral drugs, such as approved immunomodulatory cytokines, cytotoxic drugs, radioisotopes, and imaging agents, directly to the diseased cells and tissues. Altor’s drug development strategy is to employ the unique antigen recognition properties of the TCR to lower the therapeutic dosage of currently approved drugs and decrease their side effects while maintaining their efficacy.
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STAR™ Molecules for Cancer and Chronic Viral Infection
Altor has produced molecules against multiple cancer targets in various formats, which have proven to be very potent against tumors in preclinical animal models. One STAR™-cytokine fusion molecule specific to the p53 tumor-associated antigen entered clinical development in early 2007. Altor has found that this molecule mediates its antitumor effects in animals through a novel immune cell-based mechanism. Altor is also developing targeted viral therapies using STAR™ molecules that can recognize and bind to many viral peptide antigens from HIV, HCV, and CMV. Our strategy is viral eradication rather than viral suppression used by all other currently available anti-viral therapies. The cancer and virus-specific reagents also have utility in monitoring disease progression and in vaccine development.
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Mature Technology Platform & Strong Intellectual Property
Altor has established a complete technology platform for generating STAR™ reagents against any peptide antigen. This platform includes TCR isolation, STAR™ fusion construction and expression, affinity improvement and humanization (if necessary) and complete in vitro and in vivo characterization. Using this technology, Altor has collaborated with many leading cellular immunologists in successfully generating TCR-based, disease-targeting molecules. Altor’s technology is backed by a broad, integrated patent portfolio that includes 47 issued U.S. and foreign patents and more than 80 pending patent applications. This intellectual property estate provides Altor with a strong and leading position for generating novel and versatile classes of targeted therapeutic reagents.
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