Lentitek

Startup

As gene modified cell therapies such as CAR-T gain more commercial and clinical traction, the industry and regulators are turning their focus to the safety and purity of modifying vectors, and in particular lentivirus.  It is well known that the transgene can be produced during lentivirus manufacture. Indeed, recent publications demonstrate that the therapeutic CAR is not only be present on the vector envelope, but also directs off-target transduction of the target cell.  Where mitigations for off target transduction are in place for ex vivo therapies, in vivo CAR therapies must eliminate vector CAR contamination.  This will not only to reduce off-target risks, but also help improve vector potency and reduce dosing requirements.

Lentitek has developed a unique technology to reduce transgene expression during production.  Our approach focuses on modulating RNA processing of the viral genome during production.  For CAR-T applications this can help reduce the CAR-transgene breakthrough expression, reducing CAR contamination of the vector envelope to below detectible levels.  Our process does not alter the vector sequence, and can be applied to other lentivirus production issues which affect yield and quality, such as transgene toxicity and vector genome splicing.