Transplantation/Autoimmune
Tract Therapeutics is developing an adaptive regulatory T cell transfer platform as an alternative to transplant immunosuppressants and to treat autoimmune disorders.
Approach
Treg Adoptive T Cell Transfer-The immunosuppressants that transplant recipients take to prevent graft rejection can cause life threatening side effects. Regulatory T cells have previously been shown to suppress self-immune responses. The Tract platform uses a patient’s own regulatory T cells to suppress the graft rejection immune response after transplantation. White blood cells are harvested from the patient prior to transplantation and the regulatory T cells are isolated using MACS purification and expanded by co-culture with cytokines. The expanded regulatory T cells are then infused into the patient post-transplant. The platform is expandable to various types of autoimmune disorders including Crohn’s and Hepatitis.
Publications
A Phase I Clinical Trial with Ex Vivo Expanded Recipient Regulatory T Cells In Living Donor Kidney Transplants
Mathew, JM; et al. Scientific Reports. 2018 May 9; 8(1): 7428
Cell Therapy in Kidney Transplantation; Focus on Regulatory T Cells.
Zwang, NA; Leventhal, JR. Journal of American Society of Nephrology. 2017 Jul; 28(7):1960-1972.
Patents
Immune Cell Selection, Expansion and Use
Development Stage
(Clinical/Pre-Clinical)
Phase II: Kidney Transplant
Phase I: Hepatitis, Crohn’s
Preclinical: Liver Transplant
Innovation Opportunity
- Immunotherapy
Partnering
Tract may be interested in academic or industry collaborations to expand the disease indications of its platform.