TC BioPharm (TCB) has appointed Professor John Anderson as its scientific and medical director as it plans to get its CAR-T cancer treatments into mass production.
Anderson specialises in immunotherapies for childhood solid cancers at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and is chief investigator for a Cancer Research UK-sponsored trial of anti-GD2 CAR-T cells for neuroblastoma patients.
Motherwell company TCB develops tumor-targeting gamma delta T (GDT) cells. It is carrying out the clinical translation of the first in a development pipeline of genetically modified “off the shelf” CAR-T products.
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Anderson, the Professor of Experimental Paediatric Oncology at Great Ormond Street, said: “ TCB have a unique portfolio of preclinical capabilities related to gamma delta CAR-T cells, which are now ripe for translation into the clinic.
"Importantly, the ability of gamma delta CAR T cells to avoid toxicity, including graft versus host disease, is a possible advantage over the conventional CAR-T cell approach. Specifically these cells could be developed into off the shelf products, greatly increasing availability for patients. In the coming years it will be exciting to contribute to their evaluation in clinical trials.”
Last month, TCB announced it was collaborating with Dublin’s Trinity College to fast-track its cancer treatment into large scale production . It aims to dramatically improve the clinical, logistic and cost burden of the first CAR-T products on the market.
Anderson's appointment, facilitated by UCL Consultants, builds upon a collaboration initiated in 2017 when TCB exclusively licensed next-generation CAR-T technology from the UCL research group.
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TCB’s chief operating officer Angela Scott said: “Over the past two years our work with Professor Anderson and colleagues has been a true collaborative effort and his track-record of innovation at the cutting-edge of immuno-oncology coupled with his daily experience of treating patients with experimental medicines, brings invaluable input to the day-to-day development of our allogeneic CAR-T products.
"With his help we will accelerate towards our goal of improving patient health and quality of life.”
