T-CONTROL · Donor T Cells for Immune Control

Patients with high-risk hematological tumors can be cured by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, the main causes of failure of HSCT are infections, tumor relapse and over-shooting immune responses of the donor T cells to healthy cells and tissues of the patient or graft-versus host disease (GvHD). Therefore, this treatment is still associated with a high morbidity and mortality, as well as a high economic burden. Our previous EU FP6 project, ALLOSTEM, resulted in a number of achievements, including a ‘first in man’ clinical trial that used a highly innovative novel cell selection strategy (Streptamer technology) for the generation of non-ATMP (advanced therapy medicinal product) monovirus specific T cell products. Continuing from ALLOSTEM, we now aim to develop two novel Streptamer-based clinical cell selection processes and its corresponding cell products. A multispecific T cell product targeting several viruses and tumors as well as a primary regulatory T cell product targeting GvHD will be developed to market maturity. These two cell products will improve the outcome of allogeneic HSCT. A significant improvement in the outcome and this coupled with a significant reduction of the costs for a large number of patients in Europe will further broaden the application in other forms of cancer of this curative treatment. In order to achieve this goal we assembled a consortium led by the University Hospital of Würzburg with Prof. Einsele as scientific coordinator together with renowned clinical scientists in the field of HSCT (all key players in ALLOSTEM).