Oxford partners Ludwig on immunotherapy

Oxford University’s tech transfer unit Isis Innovation is partnering Ludwig Cancer Research on a new immunotherapy spinout.

The firm, iOx Therapeutics, is developing a cancer immunotherapy discovered during a collaboration between the two research centres. The spinout is building on research based around multiple synthetic lipid compunds which activate natural killer T (NKT) cells – a cross over between T cells and natural killer cells which are crucial to the immune system. The collaborative research has indicated that the NKT cells have an important role in the immune system’s ability to fight tumours, and could potentially be mixed with other immunotherapies.

The company, which is currently planning for its first human trial, has received investment of an undisclosed size from cancer investment firm SalvaRx.

Vincenzo Cerundolo, who led the study into the cells and is director of the MRC Human Immunology Unit at Oxford, said: “Preclinical studies of our iNKT-activating compounds have been extremely promising. We’ve been able to show that these molecules can halt the progression of tumours in animal models. I am very excited to see them moving toward the clinic, and gratified that our research could prove to be of benefit to cancer patients.”