Joint venture catapults research at cancer

University College London Business, Imperial Innovations and Cell Therapy Catapult have formed a new joint venture, Catapult Therapy TCR. The new company will work towards commercialisation of a treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia.

Cell Therapy Catapult will work to accelerate the delivery of Phase I and II clinical trials, investing up to £10m ($17m) to take the therapy into and through Phase II. The clinical trials are expected to begin in 2015. It will also provide expertise, including manufacturing development and clinical trial sponsorship. The TTOs have transferred all relevant patents to Catapult Therapy TCR, and they will be eligible for late-stage development milestones and royalties as the therapy progresses.

Based on research that began at Imperial College before being continued at UCL, the treatment targets disorders associated with overexpression of an antigen, WT1, such as acute myeloid leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndrome . The research was funded by the charity Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

The technology modifies a patient’s T-cells – part of the body’s natural immune system – through gene therapy, so that they recognise and destroy WT1-expressing cells. The gene therapy takes place at the UCL Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The catapult centres are a network designed to drive UK innovation and economic growth in seven sectors. The network was created by the Technology Strategy Board, the UK’s innovation agency.

Keith Thompson, CEO of Cell Therapy Catapult, said: “We are very excited to be driving the advance of this important immune therapy with the potential to bring significant benefit to patients. The collaboration and formation of the new company is a great example of the way in which the Cell Therapy Catapult can catalyse the progress of innovative cell therapies towards commercialisation, helping create a vibrant cell therapy industry in the UK.”