Medigene AG: Medigene highlights its 'iM (inducible Medigene)-TCR' approach at CAR-TCR Summit 2019 in Boston, USA

Martinsried/Munich (pta034/09.09.2019/22:00 UTC+2) 'iM-TCRs' enable controllable cytotoxicity of tumor-specific TCR-T cells to potentially tune safety and efficacy according to clinical needs

Medigene AG (FSE: MDG1, Prime Standard), a clinical stage immuno-oncology company focusing on the development of T cell immunotherapies, announces that Dr. Slavoljub Milosevic, Vice President of Technology and Innovation at Medigene AG, will be presenting "iM-TCR (inducible Medigene TCR): Controlled cytotoxicity of tumor-specific TCR-modified T cells with improved avidity through control of TCR surface expression" at the CAR-TCR Summit 2019 in Boston, USA on 13 September at 11:30 am.

T cells are effector cells of the human immune system which, via their T cell receptors (TCRs), can recognize and kill cancer cells. While genetically engineering patient T cells to carry TCRs specific for tumor antigens has been shown to enable elimination of tumor cells, potential off-tumor cross-reactivity can occasionally lead to unwanted toxicity against normal cells and healthy tissues causing serious and/or life-threatening adverse events.

Medigene's new inducible 'iM-TCRs' offer an approach that enables exquisite dose-dependent and rapid control of TCR surface expression and thereby also TCR-T (TCR-modified) T cell functional activity. Engineering TCR-Ts using iM-TCRs is also shown to generate T cells with higher avidity for target antigens without inducing changes in the TCR complementarity determining regions (CDRs) that bind to the target antigens. iM-TCRs permit the function of TCR-T therapies to be finely tuned by conditionally turning TCR expression "on and off" as needed in patients. Importantly, by tightly up- or down-regulating iM-TCR expression at the T cell surface, any off-tumor activity of TCR-T cells can be closely controlled without resorting to killing these therapeutically valuable cells by other more drastic measures. Thus, iM-TCR-T cells which remain viable when the iM-TCR is down-regulated, could subsequently be reactivated at a potentially more appropriate time and level of activity. For clinicians, the ability to manage therapeutic activity by dialing iM-TCR levels up or down, would provide treatment options to potentially tune safety and efficacy according to clinical needs.

Dr. Slavoljub Milosevic commented: "Our high avidity inducible iM-TCRs represent a way to precisely affect and control the responsiveness of genetically modified T cell receptors, thereby potentially reducing the risk of side effects. The ability to finely control the activity of these iM-TCRs could enable an even broader scope of antigens to be effectively targeted more safely."
In addition, Prof. Dolores J. Schendel, CEO of Medigene AG, is participating at the summit as member of the CAR-TCR Scientific Advisory Board.

Medigene AG (FSE: MDG1, ISIN DE000A1X3W00, Prime Standard) 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 pre-clinical and clinical development.

For more information, please visit http://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.

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