ImmunoCellular Plans Job Cuts in Shift to Stem-to-T-Cell Program – Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (press release)

Two months after winding down development of its lead candidate for lack of funds, ImmunoCellular Therapeutics says it will cut jobs and facilities in a restructuring designed to lower costs and refocus the company on its program to generate cancer-killing T cells by engineering hematopoietic stem cells.

The company gave no details on how many jobs will be eliminated or which facilities would be jettisoned in a statement yesterday. ImmunoCellular has seven full-time and two part-time employees, according to its Form 10-Q for the second quarter, filed August 14.

The board and management of ImmunoCellular remain committed to pursuing a viable strategic path forward for the Company, with the goal of realizing the value of our immuno-oncology technology platform and assets, stated ImmunoCellular president and CEO Anthony J. Gringeri, Ph.D.

To that end, ImmunoCellular said, it will shift its attention to developing its Stem-to-T-Cell research program, which could potentially treat both solid and blood tumors. Stem-to-T-Cell uses the immune system to manufacture antigen-specific killer T cells that target and destroy cancer cells, as well as prevent tumor recurrence through long-term immunosurveillance.

Stem-to-T-Cell is expected to achieve two milestones by years end: During the third quarter, ImmunoCellular anticipates completion of loading of the T-cell receptor DNA sequence into a viral vector, with transfection of the human hematopoietic stem cells by the loaded viral vector occurring during the fourth quarter. The transfected stem cells are expected ultimately to produce an unlimited supply of killer T cells bearing the desired T-cell receptor.

Once proof-of-concept has been established, ImmunoCellular said, it can advance to studies using preclinical models.

We are focusing resources on advancing our research-stage Stem-to-T-Cell program in collaboration with leading academic researchers and contract laboratories, Dr. Gringeri added.

ImmunoCellular is developing Stem-to-T-cell technology through a license granted in 2014 by the California Institute of Technology, where the technology originated in the labs of Nobel Laureate and President Emeritus David Baltimore, Ph.D.

The company says that Stem-to-T-Cell offers a more gradual and measured release of killer T cells than chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) technologies, thus avoiding the limited response, and even toxicity, associated with some CAR-T treatments. Stem-to-T-Cell could be used in combination cancer immunotherapy approaches, ImmunoCellular says.

We believe that by inserting DNA that encodes T-cell receptors into hematopoietic stem cells rather than into T cells, the immune response can be transformed into a durable and more potent response that could effectively treat solid tumors, ImmunoCellular explains in its Form 10-K for 2016, filed March 17.

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ImmunoCellular Plans Job Cuts in Shift to Stem-to-T-Cell Program - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (press release)