New Oxford spinout MatchBio looks to enhance CAR-T cancer therapy
MatchBio, a recently established spinout from the University of Oxford, is aiming to revolutionise cancer treatment by enhancing CAR T immunotherapy.
The company will drive forward the research of Professors Omer Dushek and Anton van der Merwe at the Dunn School of Pathology.
T cells, essential components of the immune system, patrol the body to identify and destroy abnormal cells – including those that are infected or cancerous – which they recognise through antigens present on their surfaces.
CAR T therapy amplifies this natural process by genetically modifying T cells to target specific cancer antigens, which standard T cells often miss.
Despite the success of CAR T therapy, many patients face relapse as cancer cells can reduce antigen expression to avoid detection.
This process, known as ‘antigen escape,’ highlights the necessity for more sensitive CARs that can detect and destroy low-antigen cancer cells, thereby preventing relapses and expanding treatment options for various cancers.
MatchBio, officially launched in January 2024 with a £4.5 million investment from Oxford Science Enterprises, aims to overcome these challenges.
By employing cutting-edge technologies, the company is developing CAR-T cells with enhanced sensitivity and specificity.
This innovation not only seeks to reduce cancer relapses by making it harder for cancer cells to evade detection, but also holds promise for treating difficult infections and autoimmune diseases.
