Cell Subset Shows Potential for Clinical Research

An agreement between TxCell SA, a developer of cellular immunotherapies using regulatory T cells (Treg) to treat severe inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, as well as transplant rejection; Inserm Transfert, on behalf of Inserm (French public organisation dedicated to human health) and Nantes University (France), will extend their existing collaboration pertaining to a new subset of Treg cells originated in one of the Inserm laboratories.

Under the agreement TxCell and the Center for Research in Transplantation and Immunology (CRTI), -a research unit (UMR 1064) affiliated to both Inserm and to the Nantes University - will collaborate on the development of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) engineered CD8+Treg cells (CAR‑Tregs). These comprise a proprietary Treg cell population expressing the CD8 marker (CD8+ Tregs). The collaboration will concentrate on the treatment of transplant rejection and autoimmune diseases, specifically focusing on multiple sclerosis. In addition, TxCell and the CRTI will develop a manufacturing process to enable clinical proof-of-concept studies.

“TxCell is now benefiting from the CRTI’s expertise on these novel CD8+ Treg cells in addition to the intellectual property secured in December 2016,” said François Meyer, Head of Research at the company. “Evaluating CAR-CD8+Treg cells in preclinical models of transplantation and autoimmune diseases to confirm their therapeutic potential will continue to push development in key target markets for TxCell.”

“This collaboration with TxCell will help us set in concrete the clinical development of innovative therapies based on CAR-CD8+Treg cells. We look forward to evaluating with TxCell the potential of these specific CAR-Tregs in the treatment of graft rejection and multiple sclerosis,” said Dr. Carole Guillonneau, CRNS scientist and co‑director of the CRTI team number 2.