HollandBIO welcomes Simmunext Biotherapeutics as a new member

HollandBIO connects, represents and supports the Dutch life science sector. We are very proud that we already represent over 270 companies: from start-ups, small and medium-sized companies to large companies, active in health, food or biobased economy. Today we welcome Simmunext Biotherapeutics! Simmunext likes to address a word to the reader:

Immunotherapy has seen great progression over the past decade, with some impressive results in cancer and autoimmune disease. Next to vaccines and antibody therapy, a commonly applied form of immunotherapy is based on isolating immune cells from a patient, stimulating and expanding these cells in vitro, followed by re-administration of large numbers of activated immune cells back into a patient (adoptive cell therapy, ACT).

While ACT has demonstrated clear clinical benefit, it is also associated with several difficulties: for each individual patient cells need to be isolated, expensive and time-consuming manipulation in vitro in clean rooms and under GMP conditions is required, and the quality and quantity of the product is highly dependent on the immune condition of the individual patient.

Simmunext Biotherapeutics has been working towards a solution for these issues and develops an ‘off-the-shelf’ product based on a filamentous-shaped PIC polymer backbone to which immune-modulating proteins are coupled. Using this technology platform, called ‘immunofilaments’, we generate bioconjugates that are able to stimulate immune cells in a manner similar to natural antigen presenting cells and better than main competitors in the market. During the past years we have obtained preclinical proof of concept, amongst others using in vivo mouse models.

The next step is to translate our technology into the clinic. Human applications might involve ex vivo treatment of T cells in ACT protocols, as well as direct administration of immunofilaments to cancer patients. The latter approach would obviate the need for the ex vivo protocol altogether.

For reference purposes a short list of publications is attached. In case of any questions, please contact Henri Theunissen, CEO Simmunext Biotherapeutics BV at henri@simmunext.com or M+31625140815.