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mRNA for Immunotherapy

Background mRNA-based Immunotherapy Services Highlights FAQs Published Data

Background

Creative Biolabs has ample experience in mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid)-based methods applied in the drug design and discovery field. Currently, we can precisely design novel mRNA therapeutics with high safety, specificity, and validity. Equipped with a team of professional scientists, we have won a good reputation among our worldwide customers for accomplishing numerous challenging projects in this field. We are proud to partner with our clients on the journey of bringing novel candidate targets to the market.

  • Introduction to mRNA in Disease Therapy

mRNA, a single-stranded RNA, is usually produced in the process of transcription that plays an important role in protein synthesis and disease therapy. In general, mRNA can be created in the nucleus and be further transported into the cytoplasm to make proteins bind to specific mRNAs. Transfer RNA (tRNA) and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) are the main types of RNA molecules that are essential for forming ribosomes and mRNA transcription.

Pilot studies have demonstrated that mRNAs can mediate the gene expression of many proteins. The dysfunction of mRNA is associated with several human diseases, such as lethal congenital contracture syndrome 1 (LCCS1). Moreover, recent studies have revealed that mRNA exogenous delivery has been considered as a new group of drugs with wide applications in the treatment of rare metabolic diseases. In addition, a wide variety of vehicles and methods for mRNA delivery have been generated to improve its safety and effectiveness in multiple preclinical studies.

Mechanism of action diagram for antigen-encoding mRNA pharmacology.Fig.1 Principles of antigen-encoding mRNA pharmacology.1
  • mRNA-based Immunotherapy

Currently, mRNA has been broadly used as a powerful tool for treating various human diseases, especially for malignant tumors. Meanwhile, many advanced mRNA technologies have been established for developing novel cancer immunotherapies. At Creative Biolabs, we are dedicated to helping our worldwide customers select, design, and optimize the mRNA molecule of the target of interest. Our mRNA-based immunotherapy platform has been generated for offering a series of mRNA therapeutics development services, ranging from mRNA design, synthetic carrier optimization, to in vitro and in vivo evaluation studies. Up to now, we can provide a battery of mRNA-based immunotherapy services based on different kinds of state-of-art technologies. For instance, alternative splicing, a new type of pre-mRNA transcripts technology, has become an attractive way in our labs for creating mature mRNA and then producing peptide-MHC complex that is used in many immunotherapies, such as T cell receptor engineered T cells (TCR-T cells) therapy.

A diagram showing the process of developing potential immunotherapies that target neoantigens derived from mRNA processing.Fig.2 Schematic illustration of the development of potential immunotherapies targeting mRNA processing-derived neoantigens.2

Moreover, in recent projects, several lipid nanoparticles containing mRNA coding for specific tumor antigens have been designed as perfect tools for inducing cytotoxic CD8 T cell responses in melanoma models. The data have suggested that immunotherapy using lipid nanoparticles can strongly inhibit tumor growth and increase the overall survival of patients. Furthermore, mRNA-encoded tumor antigens have become an effective strategy for loading dendritic cells (DCs) ex vivo to trigger anti-tumor immune responses in cancer immunotherapy. Besides, mRNA prepared by in vitro transcription (IVT) has been regarded as a suitable delivery system for modified or recombinant proteins. The results collected from various tumor models have shown that IVT mRNA can be utilized in the generation of passive cellular immunotherapy.

mRNA-based Immunotherapy Services

Creative Biolabs has developed a novel mRNA-based immunotherapy platform to boost the functions of our mRNA-based drug discovery pipeline. Our approaches will remove the obstacles of your projects and bring breakthroughs to affect the future of new drug discovery. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us for more information.

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Highlights

  • A well-mature mRNA study platform: Creative Biolabs offers an advanced mRNA study platform, integrating cutting-edge technology and expert knowledge for precise therapeutic development.
  • Various mRNA delivery technology: We utilize diverse mRNA delivery systems, including lipid nanoparticles, ensuring targeted, efficient, and safe therapeutic delivery.
  • Effective mRNA-based immunotherapy: Our mRNA-based immunotherapies effectively harness the immune system to target diseases, particularly cancer, showing promising preclinical results.
  • Fast turnaround time: Creative Biolabs ensures quick project completion with streamlined processes, helping clients rapidly advance from research to clinical trials.
  • Efficient and cost-effective process: We provide a cost-effective mRNA therapeutic development process, optimizing every stage to balance affordability with high-quality outcomes.

FAQs

Q: What is mRNA-based immunotherapy and how does it work?

A: mRNA-based immunotherapy involves using messenger RNA (mRNA) to instruct cells to produce specific proteins that trigger an immune response against diseases, particularly cancers. This approach harnesses the body's natural defenses to recognize and attack cancer cells by producing antigens that stimulate cytotoxic T-cell responses.

Q: What are the advantages of mRNA-based immunotherapy over traditional treatments?

A: mRNA-based immunotherapy is advantageous due to its high specificity, rapid development, and ability to induce potent immune responses. Unlike traditional therapies, mRNA does not integrate into the genome, reducing the risk of genetic mutations. Additionally, mRNA can be quickly modified and produced, allowing for personalized and adaptable treatments.

Q: How does Creative Biolabs support mRNA-based immunotherapy development?

A: Creative Biolabs provides a comprehensive mRNA-based immunotherapy platform that includes mRNA design, synthetic carrier optimization, and in vitro/in vivo evaluation studies. Their services support the development of novel cancer immunotherapies by ensuring the mRNA therapeutics are safe, effective, and tailored to the specific needs of each project.

Q: What technologies are used in mRNA-based immunotherapy at Creative Biolabs?

A: Creative Biolabs utilizes advanced technologies such as alternative splicing, lipid nanoparticles for delivery, and in vitro transcription (IVT) mRNA. These technologies are employed to create effective mRNA vaccines and therapies that induce strong immune responses against targeted diseases, particularly in oncology.

Q: What role do lipid nanoparticles play in mRNA-based immunotherapy?

A: Lipid nanoparticles are crucial in mRNA-based immunotherapy as they protect the mRNA and facilitate its delivery into target cells. Creative Biolabs uses LNPs to efficiently deliver mRNA encoding tumor antigens to induce robust immune responses, making them a key component in the development of mRNA-based cancer vaccines.

Q: How does mRNA-based immunotherapy contribute to cancer treatment?

A: mRNA-based immunotherapy contributes to cancer treatment by enabling the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. Creative Biolabs develops mRNA therapies that encode tumor-specific antigens, leading to the activation of cytotoxic T-cells that can target and destroy cancer cells, offering a promising approach for treating various cancers.

Published Data

In this study, the mRNA-based cancer immunotherapy CV9201 was designed to target non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by encoding five tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). The primary goal was to induce robust immune responses against cancer cells expressing these antigens. The study involved patients with advanced NSCLC who had stable disease following first-line treatment. The results showed that CV9201 was well-tolerated, with most adverse events being mild to moderate, such as injection site reactions and flu-like symptoms. Immune responses were detected in 63% of evaluable patients, with some showing specific T-cell and antibody responses against one or more TAAs. Despite these immune responses, the clinical efficacy was modest, with a median progression-free survival of 5.0 months and overall survival of 10.8 months. These findings suggest that while CV9201 can induce immune responses, its clinical impact may need further enhancement, possibly through combination therapies.

Graph showing T cell responses with a twofold increase in antigen-specific reactions after CV9201 treatment in a phase IIa study.Fig.3 The intensity of T cell response of patients was detected by ICS or IFN-γ ELISPOT after CV9201 treatment.3

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References

  1. Sahin, U.; et al. mRNA-based therapeutics-developing a new class of drugs. Nature reviews Drug discovery. 2014, 13(10): 759.
  2. Frankiw, L.; et al. Alternative mRNA splicing in cancer immunotherapy. Nature Reviews Immunology. 2019, 19(11): 675-87.
  3. Sebastian, Martin, et al. "A phase I/IIa study of the mRNA-based cancer immunotherapy CV9201 in patients with stage IIIB/IV non-small cell lung cancer." Cancer immunology, immunotherapy 68 (2019): 799-812.
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