TCER®
Bispecific T cell Engaging Receptors
Immatics’ TCR Bispecific product candidates, also called T cell Engaging Receptors (TCER®) are off-the-shelf biologics that leverage the body’s immune system by redirecting and activating T cells towards cancer cells expressing specific tumor targets. These novel biologics are engineered to allow any T cell in the body to become activated and attack the tumor, regardless of the T cells’ intrinsic specificity.
Expanded target space compared to classical T cell engagers
TCER® compounds target tumor-associated peptides presented by HLA-molecules (referred to as pHLA) on the tumor cell surface, and exploits the whole cancer cell proteome.
Active at low levels of target expression
TCER® compounds are designed to induce the killing of tumor cells even when only physiological low copy numbers of the target are presented on the cancer cell surface.
High affinity and preclinical activity
Very low concentrations of the TCER® molecules were required for in vitro killing of tumor cells expressing physiological levels of target pHLA and significant tumor growth inhibition was observed in an in vivo model.
Extended half-life and modularity
The TCER®-scaffold is designed to exhibit a long functional half-life in the patient’s bloodstream to achieve clinical activity without the requirement for daily and/or continuous intravenous administration. It is also designed to offer modularity. This enables the efficient exchange of tumor-targeting and T cell engaging binders along with balanced affinities for optimized biodistribution and enrichment of the molecule at the tumor site.
Off-the-shelf therapeutics
TCER® are biologics designed for cost-effective manufacturing and immediate treatment availability without the need for specialized medical centers .
Mode of
Action
Immatics’ TCR Bispecifics, called TCER® (T Cell Engaging Receptors), are designed to leverage the therapeutic potential of bispecific T cell engagers exhibiting a well validated mode of action and off-the-shelf usage of bispecific antibodies as well as the expanded target space available to T cell therapies against pHLA targets.
Our TCER format contains a T cell-recruiting antibody domain coupled to a pHLA-binding TCR domain. These domains are attached to a silenced Fc domain intended to prolong stability and favorable manufacturability of the molecule.
Once administered, TCER® compounds are designed to bind to the tumor cells presenting the pHLA target and simultaneously recruit, activate and stimulate the patient’s own T cells to attack the tumor cells. This is expected to result in T cell expansion and tumor shrinkage.
