Our Science
Introducing a New Immunotherapy Paradigm
We Generate Immunity for Life. We accomplish this by inducing exceptionally durable memory T cells and antibody responses. Our technologies increase the intelligence of dendritic cells, the master regulators of adaptive immunity. Our platforms represent a new class of multi-purpose immunotherapies that target the central actions of our immune system to treat a broad range of cancer and infectious diseases.
Dendritic Cells and Immunotherapies
Dendritic cells (DCs) are the apex regulators of the immune system.
- DCs are the only cells that can stimulate new T cell responses to cancer and infection.
- DCs survey the tissues of our body for threats to the host such as cancer or infection.
- When DCs detect these threats, they instruct T cells to eradicate the threat and restore health to the patient.
DCs survey the tissue of our body for threats such as cancer or infection.
- DCs detect threats via proteins that operate as sensors of infection
- These sensory proteins, when activated, enhance the immunostimulatory functions of DCs.
Infection-like signals stimulate DCs to upregulate the three functions needed to generate long-lived memory T cells that can protect us for life.
- Presentation of antigens
- Expression of costimulatory molecules
- Secretion of cytokines that stimulate protective functions of T cells
DCs have the most power over our immune system to treat diseases.
- Infection-like signals stimulate DCs to provide all the signals needed to generate long-lived memory T cells that can protect us for life.
- Many approaches to stimulate DCs have been taken into clinical trials, in hopes of stimulating protective immunity.
- However, clinical success has been rare, as long-lasting memory T cell responses are rarely induced.
Bridging knowledge gaps that limit the success of current immunotherapies
Antigen uptake and presentation
Dendritic cells (DCs) capture antigens from body tissues and display them to T cells and other lymphocytes, triggering adaptive immune responses. This presentation is essential—without it, the body cannot mount specific, robust responses against pathogens or tumors.
1 of 8Co-stimulation signals
When DCs detect threats, they provide critical co-stimulatory signals to activate T cells and other lymphocytes. Without these signals, T cells that interact with DCs become unresponsive (anergic) and fail to proliferate or function effectively.
Short-lived effector T cells
Short-lived effector T cells are transient and do not effectively penetrate tissues. Without tissue penetration, cancer cannot be effectively treated, making these conventional effector T cells insufficient for durable cancer immunity.
Polarization cytokines and Memory signal release
Upon detecting pathogens or tissue damage, DCs release specific cytokines that influence T cell longevity and function.
• Type I IFNs enhance antigen presentation, drive polyfunctional T cells, and increase cytotoxic function, enabling potent T cell responses.
• IL-1β delivers the “memory signal” that establishes and reactivates long-lived tumor-specific T cells, ensuring lasting immune protection.
Without these cytokines, immunotherapies fail to achieve durable outcomes.
Migration
DCs must travel to lymph nodes—the body’s immune command centers—to interact with naïve T cells. Lymph nodes contain large populations of T cells and serve as the primary sites where DCs initiate adaptive immunity. Without this migration, DCs cannot access T cells to trigger responses.
T cell engineering for tissue penetration
Through precise signals, DCITE programs tumor-specific T cells to not only circulate systemically but also infiltrate deep within solid tumors and establish tissue-resident memory (TRM) cells—a critical mechanism for cancer elimination. Without effective tissue penetration, cancer cannot be treated.
Tissue penetrant memory T cells
Tissue penetrant memory T cells have a long-life span —particularly tissue-resident memory (TRM) cells provide superior surveillance and rapid response at the sites where tumors develop, making them the gold standard for durable cancer immunity.
Lifelong protective immunity
Our platforms deliver all five essential immune functions needed to generate durable, long-lived memory T cells: antigen presentation, robust co-stimulation signal, secretion of memory-supporting cytokines (Type I IFN and IL-1β), enhanced DC migration to lymph nodes, and programming of T cells for deep tissue penetration. Without all five, lifelong protective immunity cannot be achieved.
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