Inhibiting ASXL1 to improve T cell Immunotherapy (SJ-22-0034)

St. Jude Reference #SJ-22-0034

Description

Researchers at St. Jude have developed an approach to disrupt ASXL1 in T cells that enables the cells to mount a robust anti-tumor or anti-viral immune response after sustained T cell stimulation. ASXL1 knock out (KO) prevents development of T cell exhaustion and hold promise for human T cell therapies infused into patients to establish a population of T cells that can sustain an anti-tumor response. Deletion of ASXL1 has the advantage over a small molecule inhibitor because disruption will be sustained as the cells divide and persist in the patient. The effect of an inhibitor disappears as the cells divide within the first week of infusion.

The researchers plan to further explore ASXL1 KO CAR T cells as a type of living drug with improved persistence and function in the setting of chronic tumor antigen and we are seeking a partner.

Keywords

Inhibit ASXL1, CAR Immunotherapy, anti-tumor, anti-viral immune response, knock out (KO), T cell exhaustion, persist

Granted patents or published applications

Published Pending Patent WO 2024/059787 A1

Related scientific references

Epigenetic regulators of clonal hematopoiesis control CD8 T cell stemness during immunotherapy, Science, published October 10, 2024

Disrupting Asxl1 gene prevents T-cell exhaustion, improving immunotherapy
https://www.stjude.org/media-resources/news-releases/2024-medicine-science-news/disrupting-asxl1-gene-prevents-t-cell-exhaustion-improving-immunotherapy.html

Licensing opportunities

The researchers plan to further explore ASXL1 KO CAR T cells as a type of living drug with improved persistence and function in the setting of chronic tumor antigen and we are seeking a partner.

Contact the Office of Technology Licensing (Phone: 901-595-2342, Fax: 901-595-3148) for more information.