Washington Patent of the Month – February 2025
In a potential leap forward for cancer immunotherapy, Umoja Biopharma has developed a novel lentiviral particle designed to reprogram immune cells directly within the body—offering a promising alternative to conventional cell therapy. Unlike traditional approaches that require the extraction, modification, and reinfusion of immune cells in the lab, Umoja’s system enables targeted T-cell activation and expansion entirely in vivo, streamlining the therapeutic process and potentially broadening patient access.
The innovation centers around a lentiviral vector engineered to deliver genetic instructions for a controllable immune receptor into T cells or natural killer (NK) cells. Once inside the body, the receptor can be selectively activated by a small molecule drug, triggering the immune cell to grow and fight disease. The viral particles are further modified with immune-activating proteins on their surface—such as anti-CD3 antibodies and co-stimulatory ligands like 41BB and CD86—that boost their ability to engage and transduce immune cells.
Importantly, the system is tunable. Doctors can modulate the immune response by administering the activating drug, allowing for precise control over the timing and strength of the therapy. This level of flexibility could reduce side effects while maximizing cancer-fighting potential.
Umoja’s approach also incorporates features to help immune cells resist suppressive drugs and tumor signals, giving them a better chance of surviving and functioning within hostile tumor environments. The technology opens new doors for immunotherapies that are faster, more scalable, and less invasive—potentially reshaping how cancers are treated in the future.
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