Activartis technology platform

Activartis’ proprietary technology platform is a completely individualised cancer immune therapy based on dendritic cells (DC).

Dendritic cells coordinate immunity

Dendritic cells infiltrate all tissues of an organism, where they form a dense network of sentinel cells. Their default function is the maintenance of tolerance against auto-antigens. In case of a dangerous situation caused by a microbial infection, they switch their mode of action and become potent immune stimulatory cells. Danger is signalled by specific molecular structures that are not present in higher organisms. One example is lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component of the bacterial cell wall. The LPS mediated danger signal causes DCs to migrate into the regional lymph nodes, where they present the antigens picked up in an infected organ to T-lymphocytes. Activating DC membrane receptors and the release of cytokines such as Interleukin-12 from DCs, delivers the “marching orders” to the T-lymphocytes as well as a “licence to kill“.

Tumour tissue does not release danger signals

Tumours are not recognised as dangerous by the immune system. In contrast to microorganisms, they do not have the specific molecular structures that enable DCs to recognise and interpret the tumour cells as dangerous. As long as the DC’s danger receptors are not engaged, it suppresses all forms of immunity. Hence, the DC itself protects tumour cells from immunological attack, as they do not present a danger signal to DCs.

Activartis’ DC cancer immune therapy: a completely individualised treatment concept “Deceiving” dendritic cells

“Deceiving” dendritic cells

The basic principle of DC cancer immune therapy is based on deceiving the patient’s dendritic cells by exposing them, in addition to the patient’s own tumour antigens, to a bacterial danger signal (lipopolysaccharide, LPS). This causes the dendritic cells to categorise the tumour antigens as dangerous and consequently raise an immune response against the tumour tissue. The dendritic cells activate tumour antigen-specific T-cells, among them killer-T-cells, to destroy tumour tissue.

Advantages of the Activartis technology platform

The Activartis treatment concept was the first active cancer immune therapy – therapeutic cancer vaccine – that enabled the release of the immune stimulatory cytokine Interleukin (IL) 12. This signalling molecule is of critical importance to polarising a killer-T-cell dominated immune response.

The Activartis cancer vaccine utilises simple logistic procedures and facilitates extensive flexibility in its application.

IP Status

Activartis’ technology platform is protected by a family of patents describing the use of DCs expressing IL-12. Filed in 2002, patents have been granted in most relevant markets: AT13752002, also published as: AT412145, AU2003260473, CA2494216, EP1537203, JP2005538167, US2006177420, US7867488 and WO2004024900. A US patent for IL-12 secreting DCs was granted at the beginning of 2011 (US 7,867,488 B2). In 2007, Activartis filed patent applications for a new generation of cancer vaccines based on genetically engineered DCs that are currently the focus of pre-clinical development.