Etcembly and University of Surrey Launch Study to Transform Cancer Treatment
British techbio innovator Etcembly is collaborating with researchers from the University of Surrey to launch a groundbreaking study aimed at revolutionizing cancer treatment. The research will analyze the immune cells of cancer survivors to identify untapped targets for next-generation immunotherapies.
While recent advancements in treatments that leverage a patient’s immune system have become central to oncology, they are not effective for everyone, underscoring the need for a broader array of novel therapies.
T cells, which are specialized immune cells that recognize and eliminate cancer, play a crucial role in combating the disease. However, the specific molecules these cells target within tumors are still not fully understood.
This partnership, involving Dr. Nicola Annels from the University of Surrey and Professor Hardev Pandha from the Royal Surrey Hospital, will focus on patients who have survived various cancers for over three years. By studying these samples, the team hopes to identify the molecules that T cells use to detect and destroy cancer cells, potentially leading to breakthrough treatments, including Etcembly’s own immunotherapy pipeline.
The study will center on T cell receptors (TCRs) and antibodies, which immune cells use to find and attack tumors. Etcembly will utilize its proprietary single-cell sequencing technology and AI-driven analytical platform, EMLyTM, to analyze millions of TCRs and antibodies in blood and tumor samples from patients who have shown complete or near-complete responses to immunotherapy.
By leveraging large language models (LLMs) and advanced structural modeling, the team aims to identify tumor-reactive receptors and trace them to the specific molecules they target within cancer cells. They anticipate pinpointing and prioritizing these targets within 12 to 18 months, thus expediting the development of life-saving treatments.
Nick Pumphrey, Chief Scientific Officer at Etcembly, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “By studying cancer survivors, we can identify TCRs and targets that have already proven effective, providing a blueprint for developing a new generation of life-saving immunotherapies.”
Professor Hardev Pandha, of the University of Surrey and Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, added, “Immunotherapy has transformed oncology in the last decade. Studying the tumor immune microenvironment in responder patients using Etcembly’s innovative approach will be instrumental in accelerating the development of effective immunotherapies for a wide range of cancers.
