Medigene AG: Medigene presents automated platform for TCR identification at CAR-TCR Summit

Automated screening reveals TCR lead candidates for next-generation immunotherapy of cancer

Planegg (pta009/30.08.2017/07:30 UTC+2) Medigene AG (FSE: MDG1, Prime Standard, TecDAX), will demonstrate the use of its automated high-throughput screening (HTS) platform for identifying T cell receptors (TCRs) suitable for TCR immunotherapies in a presentation at the upcoming CAR-TCR Summit from 5-8 September in Boston, MA, USA.

Prof. Dolores Schendel, Medigene's CEO and CSO, commented: "This year's expected FDA approvals of Novartis' and Kite's CAR-T therapies to treat B cell malignancies are becoming imminent options for patients as promising cancer therapies. Furthermore, the recently announced plan by Gilead to acquire Kite Pharma, further supports the commercial attraction of these innovative therapeutic approaches. Medigene is involved in the development of the second wave of adoptive cell therapy based on TCR-modified cells which can be used to address additional types of tumors. Medigene's automated screening system is able to significantly abbreviate the tedious and laborious search for a suitable and safe TCRs."

Medigene has designed and built a robotic platform for discovering and developing TCRs for therapeutic use in TCR-modified T cells. Dr. Markus Dangl, Senior Vice President Research & Pre-Clinical Development at Medigene will present latest proof-of-principle data on detected T cell responses against four of seven selected neoantigens and the rapid identification of mutation-specific TCRs in just eight weeks in his oral presentation on 6 September at 2.25 PM entitled: "An Automated Method for TCR Isolation and Initial Characterization".

Apart from Medigene's methods to identify and isolate neoantigen-specific TCRs, the presentation will also feature the in vitro priming approaches to generate target-specific T cells and the necessary steps to identify target-specific TCR lead candidates. The rapid functional screening of T cell clones is followed by next generation sequencing of the relevant TCR leads. Medigene also analyzes if the TCRs leads can be recombinantly expressed in primary human T cells by tests for function and specificity.

About Medigene's TCR technology: Medigene's TCR technology for adoptive T-cell therapy is one of the company's three highly innovative and complementary immunotherapy platforms in immuno-oncology.

The TCR technology aims at arming the patient's own T cells with tumor-specific T-cell receptors (TCRs). The receptor-modified T cells are then able to detect and efficiently kill tumor cells. This immunotherapy approach attempts to overcome the patient's tolerance towards cancer cells and tumor-induced immunosuppression by activating and modifying the patient's T cells outside the body (ex vivo).

TCR therapy is developed to utilize a higher number of potential tumor antigens than other T cell-based immunotherapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapy. Medigene is preparing the clinical development of its first TCR candidates and is establishing a pipeline of recombinant T-cell receptors, and has established Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant processes for their combination with patient-derived T cells.

Medigene's first TCR immunotherapy "MDG1011" will be tested in a clinical Phase I/II trial intended to be started by the end of 2017.

Besides the planned company-sponsored TCR trial, Medigene is involved in the preparation of an investigator-initiated trial (IIT) with TCRs in multiple myeloma (MM) to be conducted by the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin in cooperation with the Max Delbrück Centre (MDC), Berlin.
Medigene AG (FSE: MDG1, ISIN DE000A1X3W00, Prime Standard, TecDAX) is a publicly listed biotechnology company headquartered in Martinsried near Munich, Germany. The company is developing highly innovative immunotherapies to target various forms and stages of cancer. Medigene concentrates on the development of personalized T cell-based therapies, with associated projects currently in preclinical and clinical development.

For more information, please visit www.medigene.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements representing the opinion of Medigene as of the date of this release. The actual results achieved by Medigene may differ significantly from the forward-looking statements made herein. Medigene is not bound to update any of these forward-looking statements. Medigene® is a registered trademark of Medigene AG. This trademark may be owned or licensed in select locations only.

Contact Medigene AG
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Tel.: +49 - 89 - 20 00 33 - 33 01,
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