MiNK, ImmunoScape collaborate to discover, develop next-gen TCR therapies

ImmunoScape and MiNK Therapeutics announced a collaboration agreement to discover and develop next-generation TCR therapies against novel targets in solid tumors. The combined efforts of both companies aim to accelerate the development of TCR-based therapies against novel targets in T cells, iNKT cells, and other modalities, potentially offering new therapeutic approaches for diverse cancer indications. In this collaborative effort, ImmunoScape will leverage its capabilities in multiplex antigen screening and in-depth T cell profiling to identify relevant TCRs targeting the library of phospho-peptide antigens. MiNK Therapeutics will further characterize these tumor-specific TCRs, leveraging its proprietary capabilities to analyze and select TCR candidates for optimal tumor targeting. “We have leveraged our proprietary iNKT discovery platform to develop a wholly owned library of both native and engineered allogeneic cell therapies, including bispecific iNKT cell engagers and TCRs targeting a range of antigens, such as PRAME, NY-ESO-1, and undisclosed targets,” said Dr. Jennifer Buell, President and Chief Executive Officer, MiNK Therapeutics. “We look forward to working with the ImmunoScape team to help fill a crucial gap in delivering TCR-iNKT cells and bispecific immune cell engagers. These therapeutics, armored with tumor-specific TCRs, can potentially eliminate tumor cells and alleviate immune suppression for durable anti-cancer immunity.”