Page 33 - SaxoCell Annual Report22/23

CAR- NK4Therapy
NK

The project aims to develop a manufacturing process of memory-like NK cells for tumor
immunotherapy leveraging patented technologies for commercialization.

Project lead: Achim Temme

Partner: University Hospital Dresden, Technical University Dresden, Cell.Copedia GmbH Leipzig

The "NK4Therapy" project pursues immunotherapy of cancer using memory-like NK cells
characterized by expression of NKG2C. These NK cells have potential for the treatment of leukemia
and solid tumors. The objectives of the project include a GMP-compliant NK cell isolation using a
new proprietary technology and GMP procedures to generate memory-like NK cells on a clinical
scale using patented genetically modified feeder cells.

A functional feeder cell clone was identified and adapted to growth conditions without animal
components to further minimize risk of transmitting animal spongiform encephalopathy agents.
Lethal irradiation of the feeder cell clone with 30 Gy eliminated tumorigenicity but still enabled
selective expansion of NKG2C-positive NK cells which showed no signs of exhaustion.

Further studies identified an optimal ratio of feeder to NK cells for large-scale expansion in
disposable bioreactors. Expanded NKG2C-positive NK cells showed effective elimination of
leukemia and glioblastoma cells which was tunable by picomolar amounts of IL-2 and enhanced by
TIGIT blockade.

Key milestones achieved include next-generation sequencing of the feeder cell clone,
establishment of test systems for identity testing, and development of a GMP-compliant device
and kit for NK cell isolation.

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