Activities of BioValley Deutschland e.V.

Titel: BioCopy GmbH: Safety First: Developing Next-Generation TCRm Antibodies for Cancer with Highest Precision and Selectivity

Referent: Dr. Günter Roth, Managing Director BioCopy GmbH

Zum Thema: 

Peptide–HLA (pHLA) complexes—formed by short intracellularly derived peptides presented on the cell surface by HLA molecules—are central to T-cell based immune surveillance and represent a largely untapped class of highly specific targets for immunotherapy. Unlike conventional surface antigens, pHLAs provide access to intracellular, often tumor-specific epitopes (e.g. tumor neoantigenes or cancer testis antigens), opening novel avenues for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases.

pHLA-targeting modalities such as TCR-engineered T cells (e.g., Afami-cel), bispecific T-cell engagers (e.g., Kimmtrak), and T-cell receptor–mimic (TCRm) antibodies hold significant therapeutic promise. However, their development is challenged as any off-target reactivity can induce massive cytotoxic effects by attacking healthy tissues – leading to severe side effects and posing serious risks to patient safety and survival. These side-effects are basically limiting the unprecedented power of T-cell drugs to fight cancer – as in theory – these drugs simply lead the T-cells to destroy the cancer. In an ideal world, the patients immune system would, after application of the according drug, heal himself from cancer.

BioCopy accepts this challenge with a comprehensive discovery platform—ValidaTe—which integrates AI-based off-target prediction, ultra–high-throughput chip-based pHLA screening, and advanced antibody engineering to generate TCRm antibodies with a minimum of off-target reactivity - and thus a maximum safety and specificity. When formatted as T-cell engagers, BioCopy’s TCRms demonstrate exceptional target selectivity and strong therapeutic potential.

Located near Freiburg, BioCopy is a mid-sized biotech company recognized for its proprietary pHLA-screening technologies. The company is guided by a distinguished Board of Directors, including former Novartis CEO Rainer Boehm, and a strong Scientific Advisory Board including Nobel Laureate Prof. Hartmut Michel.

Arbeitstitel: Vorstellung des Unternehmens BioPharmaSpec GmbH

Referent: noch nicht bekannt